Information display system, work vehicle, control method for meter panel unit, and computer program

Abstract

To display, with good visibility, various kinds of information necessary for agricultural work.SOLUTION: An information display system, which is an information display system for a work vehicle, includes: a meter panel unit having a display element; a first control device that controls the meter panel unit; and a second control device that controls the work vehicle. Each of the first and second control devices can display a pop-up image, including a message, in a display area of the display element to notify the user of the pop-up image. Before causing the display element to display a first pop-up image including a first message notifying of a state of the work vehicle, the first control device transmits, to the second control device, a completion notification indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image has been completed. In response to the completion notification, the second control device determines whether to display the first pop-up image on the display element or not.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information display system, a work vehicle, a control method for a meter panel unit, and a computer program.

Background Art

[0002] As next-generation agriculture, research and development of smart agriculture using ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and IoT (Internet of Things) has been promoted. Research and development for the automation and unmanned operation of work vehicles such as tractors used in fields has also been advanced. For example, work vehicles that travel with automatic steering using a positioning system such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) capable of precise positioning have been put into practical use.

[0003] In front of the driver's seat of an agricultural work vehicle such as a tractor, a meter panel unit is provided to display the traveling speed, the load state of the engine, and the state of each part of the work vehicle and notify the driver (operator).

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a meter unit for a general passenger car.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The instrument panels installed on agricultural machinery such as tractors are required to accurately notify the operator of various information about the vehicle while it is in motion or working. Furthermore, because such agricultural machinery performs various tasks outdoors, it needs to display more information than ordinary passenger cars. When agricultural machinery is used in smart agriculture, it will be necessary to display even more information. However, as the amount of information displayed on the instrument panel increases, visibility decreases, making it difficult for the driver to obtain the necessary information.

[0007] Furthermore, the increasing demands on such meter panels are not limited to agricultural machinery, but also apply to construction machinery used for work on construction sites. Hereafter, mobile agricultural and construction machinery will be collectively referred to as "work vehicles."

[0008] This disclosure provides an information display system capable of solving such problems, a work vehicle equipped with the information display system, a method for controlling a meter panel unit for a work vehicle, and a computer program. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This disclosure provides solutions as described in the following items.

[0010] [Item 1] An information display system for work vehicles, A meter panel unit having a display element, A first control device for controlling the meter panel unit, A second control device for controlling the aforementioned work vehicle, Equipped with, Each of the first and second control devices is capable of displaying a pop-up image containing a message in the display area of ​​the display element to notify the user. Before the first control device displays a first pop-up image containing a first message indicating the status of the work vehicle on the display element, it transmits a completion notification to the second control device indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete. The second control device is an information display system that, in response to the completion notification, determines whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element.

[0011] [Item 2] The second control device is When the completion notification is received at the time when preparations are complete to display a second pop-up image containing a second message indicating the status of the work vehicle on the display element, a decision is made on whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area. The information display system according to item 1, which instructs the first control device to display the determined pop-up image in the display area.

[0012] [Item 3] Each of the first and second messages mentioned above is assigned a priority. The information display system according to item 2, wherein the second control device determines, based on the priority, whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area.

[0013] [Item 4] The information display system according to item 3, wherein the second control device determines whether to erase the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image displayed in the display area in accordance with a change in the state of the work vehicle.

[0014] [Item 5] In a state where the image with the first priority among the first and second pop-up images is displayed in the display area, the second control device switches the pop-up image to be displayed in the display area from the image with the first priority to an image with a second priority lower than the first priority among the first and second pop-up images according to a change in the state of the work vehicle. The information display system according to item 3.

[0015] [Item 6] While the first or second pop-up image is displayed on the display element, when the user performs an erasing operation to make the first or second pop-up image non-displayed, the first control device notifies the second control device of an erasing operation notification indicating that the erasing operation has been performed. The second control device receives the erasing operation notification from the first control device. The information display system according to item 4 or 5 that determines whether the first or second pop-up image should be made non-displayed according to the type of message included in the first or second pop-up image or the state of the work vehicle.

[0016] [Item 7] The second control device. The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 6 that causes an icon image for the user to perform an operation to make the pop-up image displayed in the display area non-displayed to be displayed on the display element together with the pop-up image.

[0017] [Item 8] The display element has a display area including a primary area for displaying a primary image indicating main information about the work vehicle and a sub area. The second control device displays the determined pop-up image in the sub area. The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 7.

[0018] [Item 9] The information display system according to item 8, wherein the main information includes information indicating the traveling direction, transmission state, and vehicle speed of the work vehicle.

[0019] [Item 10] The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the meter panel unit further includes first and second analog meters having indicating needles provided on both sides of the display element.

[0020] [Item 11] The information display system according to item 10, wherein the meter panel unit further includes an arc-shaped indicator disposed around the movable region of the indicating needle.

[0021] [Item 12] A work vehicle including the information display system according to any one of items 1 to 11.

[0022] [Item 13] A control method implemented on a computer for displaying an image on a display element included in a meter panel unit for a work vehicle, the method including: causing a first control device that controls the meter panel unit to prepare to display a first pop-up image including a first message notifying the state of the work vehicle on the display element; causing the first control device to transmit a completion notification indicating that the preparation for displaying the first pop-up image has been completed to a second control device that controls the work vehicle before displaying the first pop-up image on the display element; causing the second control device to determine whether to display the first pop-up image on the display element in response to the completion notification; and a control method including the above.

[0023] [Item 14] A computer program executed by a computer for displaying an image on a display element included in a meter panel unit for a work vehicle, the computer program including: The computer program is installed on the computer. The first control device that controls the meter panel unit is instructed to prepare to display a first pop-up image containing a first message that notifies the status of the work vehicle on the display element, The first control device is instructed to send a completion notification to the second control device that controls the work vehicle, indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete, before the first pop-up image is displayed on the display element. The second control device is instructed to decide whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element in response to the completion notification. A computer program that executes something.

[0024] The comprehensive or specific embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by apparatus, systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer-readable non-temporary storage media, or any combination thereof. Computer-readable storage media may include volatile storage media or non-volatile storage media. Apparatus may consist of multiple devices. If apparatus consists of two or more devices, these two or more devices may be located in a single device or in two or more separate devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to embodiments of this disclosure, an information display system capable of displaying various information necessary for agricultural work in a highly visible manner, a work vehicle equipped with the information display system, and a method for controlling a meter panel unit for the work vehicle are provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0026] [Figure 1A] This is a schematic side view showing an example of a work vehicle in an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 1B]In this embodiment of the disclosure, the instrument panel unit is schematically shown as being mounted behind the steering wheel located in front of the driver's seat of a work vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the main components of the meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the wall portion of the meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the transparent cover of the meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of indicators in a meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a front view showing an example of a state in which various information is displayed on the display element of the meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of the analog meter in the meter panel unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a front view showing the arrangement of the first analog meter, the arc-shaped indicator, and the facing plate. [Figure 9] This is a front view showing an example configuration of an arc-shaped indicator. [Figure 10] This is a front view showing the second analog meter and the second arc-shaped indicator. [Figure 11] This is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information display system in this embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a control device. [Figure 13] This is a schematic front view showing an example where an arc of the same color as the light emitted from the light-emitting area of ​​an arc-shaped indicator is displayed. [Figure 14] This is a schematic front view showing an example where an arc of the same color as the light emitted from the light-emitting area of ​​an arc-shaped indicator is displayed, along with other shapes containing arcs of the same color. [Figure 15] This diagram shows an example of a home screen. [Figure 16] This diagram schematically illustrates an example of display area segmentation. [Figure 17] This diagram schematically shows an example of the display elements of a meter panel unit. [Figure 18A] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the first control device. [Figure 18B] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the second control unit. [Figure 18C] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the second control unit. [Figure 19A] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the first control device. [Figure 19B] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the second control unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] The meter panel unit according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that parts with the same reference numerals appearing in multiple drawings indicate the same or equivalent parts.

[0028] The following embodiments are illustrative examples for embodying the technical concept of the present invention and do not limit the present invention to these embodiments. Descriptions of the size, material, shape, and relative arrangement of components are intended as examples only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those specific examples. The size and positional relationships of the components shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for ease of understanding.

[0029] In this disclosure, “parallel” includes cases where the angle between two lines, edges, planes, etc., is between 0° and 5°, unless otherwise specified. Also, in this disclosure, “perpendicular” or “orthogonal” includes cases where the angle between two lines, edges, planes, etc., is between 90° and ±5°, unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise specified, the angle between two lines, edges, planes, etc., is positive and not negative.

[0030] <Outline configuration of work vehicles> Figure 1A is a schematic side view showing an example of the work vehicle 200 in this embodiment. The illustrated work vehicle 200 is a tractor that tows an implement (interchangeable work device) 300.

[0031] The work vehicle 200 shown in Figure 1A comprises a body 201, a prime mover (engine) 202, and a transmission 203. The body 201 is provided with a running gear including wheels with tires 204 and a cabin 205. The running gear includes four wheels 204, axles that rotate the four wheels, and brakes that brake each axle. In this example, the wheels 204 include a pair of front wheels 204F and a pair of rear wheels 204R. One or both of the front wheels 204F and the rear wheels 204R may be replaced with multiple wheels fitted with tracks (crawlers) instead of wheels with tires.

[0032] Inside the cabin 205 are the instrument panel unit 100, the driver's seat 207, the steering wheel 220, and a group of switches for operation according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0033] The work vehicle 200 in Figure 1A is equipped with multiple external sensors that sense the surroundings of the work vehicle 200. The external sensors may include various sensors such as multiple cameras 270, multiple obstacle sensors 295, and multiple LiDAR sensors 290. The cameras 270 may be installed, for example, on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the work vehicle 200. The cameras 270 capture images of the environment around the work vehicle 200 and generate image data. The images acquired by the cameras 270 may be transmitted to a terminal device for remote monitoring, for example. The cameras 270 are installed as needed, and their number is arbitrary. The LiDAR sensors 290 are an example of external sensors that output sensor data showing the distribution of objects located in the environment surrounding the work vehicle 200. In the example in Figure 1A, two LiDAR sensors 290 are located at the front and rear of the cabin 205. The LiDAR sensors 290 may be installed in other locations (for example, at the lower front of the vehicle body 201). Each LiDAR sensor 290 repeatedly outputs sensor data indicating the distance and direction to each measurement point of an object in the surrounding environment, or the three-dimensional coordinate values ​​of each measurement point, while the work vehicle 200 is in motion. The number of LiDAR sensors 290 is not limited to two; it may be one or three or more. In the example in Figure 1A, multiple obstacle sensors 295 are provided at the front and rear of the cabin 205. Obstacle sensors 295 may also be placed in other locations. Obstacle sensors 295 may include, for example, a laser scanner or an ultrasonic sonar.

[0034] The work vehicle 200 is further equipped with a GNSS unit 260. GNSS is a general term for satellite positioning systems such as GPS (Global Positioning System), QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, e.g., Michibiki), GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. The GNSS unit 110 receives satellite signals (also called GNSS signals) transmitted from multiple GNSS satellites and performs positioning based on the satellite signals. The GNSS unit 260 is located on top of the cabin 205, but may be located in other positions.

[0035] The prime mover 202 may be, for example, a diesel engine. An electric motor may be used instead of a diesel engine. The transmission 203 can change the propulsion force and travel speed of the work vehicle 200 by shifting gears. The transmission 203 can also switch the work vehicle 200 between forward and reverse.

[0036] A coupling device 208 is provided at the rear of the vehicle body 201. The coupling device 208 includes, for example, a three-point support device (also called a "three-point link" or "three-point hitch"), a PTO (Power Take Off) shaft, a universal joint, and a communication cable. The coupling device 208 allows the implement 300 to be attached to and detached from the work vehicle 200. The coupling device 208 can change the position or orientation of the implement 300 by raising and lowering the three-point link, for example, by a hydraulic system. Power can also be supplied from the work vehicle 200 to the implement 300 via the universal joint. The work vehicle 200 can pull the implement 300 and cause the implement 300 to perform a predetermined task. The coupling device may be provided at the front of the vehicle body 201. In that case, the implement can be connected to the front of the work vehicle 200.

[0037] The implement 300 shown in Figure 1A is, for example, a sprayer for spraying pesticides on crops, but the implement 300 is not limited to a sprayer. For example, any implement 300 such as a mower, seeder, spreader, rake, baler, harvester, plow, harrow, or rotary tiller can be connected to the work vehicle 200 and used.

[0038] Thus, the work vehicle 200 used in smart agriculture is equipped with various sensors and performs various tasks together with various implements 300. During the course of such tasks, it is necessary to provide the driver (user or operator) with various information regarding the driving status and work status. For this reason, the information to be displayed on the meter panel unit 100 can vary in many ways depending on the content and stage of the task.

[0039] Furthermore, the work vehicle 200, such as a tractor, may be configured to operate manually, automatically steered, or automatically.

[0040] <Outline configuration of the meter panel unit> Figure 1B is a schematic front view showing an instrument panel unit 100 mounted on a tractor, which is one of the work vehicles, in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the instrument panel unit 100 is positioned in front of the driver's seat of the tractor. Specifically, the instrument panel unit 100 is fitted into an opening in a meter cover 240 above a handle stay 230 that rotatably supports the steering wheel (handle) 220. In this example, the steering wheel 220 has a central hub (horn cover) 221, three spokes 222A, 222B, and 222C extending radially from the horn cover 221, and a rim 223 supported by the spokes 222A, 222B, and 222C. The instrument panel unit 100 is positioned so as to be visible to the driver seated in the driver's seat. In the example of Figure 1B, various information displayed on the instrument panel unit 100 is visible through an opening between spokes 222A and 222B.

[0041] The meter panel unit 100 is required to have excellent visibility. In particular, in mobile work vehicles capable of automatic steering or autonomous driving, it is necessary to display various information that is not displayed in ordinary passenger cars during the process of performing various agricultural tasks. For such a meter panel unit 100, it is desirable that its visibility be enhanced so that particularly important information is not overlooked. Furthermore, when the meter panel unit 100 is to be mounted on various types of work vehicles, it is desirable that it has a structure that allows for easy installation. As described below, the meter panel unit 100 in this embodiment has excellent visibility and is easy to install.

[0042] The schematic configuration of the meter panel unit 100 will be described below with reference to Figures 2, 3, and 4. Figure 2 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of the main components of the meter panel unit 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the wall portion of the meter panel unit 100, which will be described later. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the transparent cover of the meter panel unit 100, which will be described later. For reference, these figures show mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes (right-handed coordinate system). In this specification, the positive direction of the Y axis may be referred to as upward and the negative direction as downward, and the positive direction of the X axis may be referred to as the right direction and the negative direction as the left direction. In addition, the positive direction of the Z axis may be referred to as the front direction and the negative direction as the back direction.

[0043] The meter panel unit 100 shown in Figure 2 comprises a meter section 10 having a first analog meter 11, a second analog meter 12, and a display element 13 provided between the first and second analog meters 11 and 12. In this specification, the display portion of the meter section 10 shown in Figure 2 may also be referred to as the display surface side of the meter section 10.

[0044] The first analog meter 11 has an indicator needle 2A, and the second analog meter 12 has indicator needles 2B and 2C. Indicator needle 2A is rotatably supported around a pivot axis located near the center of the first analog meter 11. Indicator needle 2A indicates, for example, engine speed, depending on the direction its tip points. Here, "engine speed" means the number of engine revolutions per unit time (e.g., 1 minute). Indicator needles 2B and 2C are rotatably supported around two pivot axes located at different locations on the second analog meter 12. Indicator needle 2B indicates, for example, the remaining fuel level, depending on the direction its tip points. Indicator needle 2C indicates, for example, the engine coolant temperature (water temperature), depending on the direction its tip points. Indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C are driven by a drive unit (movement) provided in the meter unit 10. The drive unit receives electrical signals indicating sensor outputs such as engine speed, fuel level, or water temperature, and can convert them into mechanical motion that changes the direction of indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C. Each drive unit for indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C has an actuator such as a stepping motor.

[0045] The display element 13 is a digital meter, not an analog meter. The display element 13 is, for example, an active-matrix display such as a liquid crystal display panel or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). In the following description, as an example, the display element 13 will be assumed to be a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display element 13 has a large number of pixels arranged two-dimensionally in the display area, and a display visible to the human eye is realized by the light emitted from the large number of pixels. In the display element 13 in this embodiment, each pixel includes RGB subpixels, and a color image can be displayed. Unlike an analog meter, the display element 13 can display numbers, characters, figures, icons, symbols, still images, or moving images of any size at any position within the display area. Strictly speaking, numbers, characters, figures, icons, and symbols are also part of the image (still image or moving image) that the display element 13 displays in the display area. The display element 13 can also display an image that, for example, superficially resembles all or part of an analog meter with an indicator needle. When the display element 13 displays an image of an "analog meter," it is possible to rotate the "indicator needle" in the image to any direction as part of a video by changing the image frame by frame. Furthermore, if the work vehicle is an electric vehicle powered by a battery, the displays of engine speed, fuel level, and water temperature can be replaced with displays such as motor output, battery level, and battery temperature, respectively.

[0046] The difference between the image of the "analog meter" displayed by a display device such as the display element 13 and the first analog meter 11 and the second analog meter 12 is that the former is two-dimensional, while the latter is three-dimensional. Furthermore, the shape, color, and size of the indicator needle and memory of the analog meter can be changed in the former, but it is difficult to change these in the latter. In addition, in the former, the visibility depends on the contrast of the image, so visibility may decrease when the ambient light is strong in the day, whereas in the latter, such a possibility is relatively small. Taking these factors into consideration, in this embodiment, some of the information to be displayed on the meter unit 10, especially information that is of high importance and requires strong visibility, is displayed by an analog meter with a three-dimensional structure.

[0047] When the meter section 10 is viewed from the front on the display side, its outer shape is a closed curve similar to an ellipse, but the outer shape of the meter section 10 is not limited to this example. When the meter section 10 is viewed from the front, its outer shape may be roughly a rectangle, or it may be a figure that combines straight lines and curves.

[0048] The meter panel unit 100 further includes a wall portion 20 fixed to the display surface side of the meter section 10, and a transparent cover 30 facing the display surface of the meter section 10. The following describes examples of the configurations of the wall portion 20 and the transparent cover 30.

[0049] The wall portion 20 surrounds the entirety of the first analog meter 11, the display element 13, and the second analog meter 12 along the periphery of the meter portion 10. The wall portion 20 may be formed from, for example, plastic (synthetic resin). The wall portion 20 protrudes vertically (in the positive Z-axis direction) from the display surface of the meter portion 10. The wall portion 20 does not need to be perpendicular to the display surface of the meter portion 10 and may be inclined from the Z-axis. In this disclosure, the distance from the display surface of the meter portion 10 to the front end of the wall portion 20 will be referred to as the "height" of the wall portion 20. In this embodiment, the height of the wall portion 20 is not constant along the periphery of the meter portion 10 and may vary depending on the position on the periphery.

[0050] When the wall portion 20 in this embodiment is viewed from the front of the meter portion 10, the approximate shape of the wall portion 20 forms a closed curve such as an ellipse. Within the region surrounded by such a wall portion 20, that is, inside the wall portion 20, a single continuous three-dimensional space is formed, enclosed by the inner wall surface of the wall portion 20.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, the wall portion 20 has a portion with a relatively large height and a portion with a relatively small height. The portion of the wall portion 20 with a relatively large height includes a visor area 20A. At least the visor area 20A of the wall portion 20 has light-shielding properties. The visor area 20A is positioned above the display element 13 when the meter panel unit 100 is mounted on a work vehicle. The visor area 20A of the wall portion 20 functions as an overhang, suppressing external light such as sunlight from illuminating the display element 13 and reducing the visibility of the display in the meter section 10. The height (maximum height) Ha of the visor area 20A is 20 mm or more, preferably 35 mm or more, and more preferably 40 mm or more. When the wall portion 20 is viewed from the direction normal to the meter section 10, the visor area 20A extends to the left and right over a wider area than the display element 13, surrounding the upper half of the first analog meter 11 and the second analog meter 12, respectively. The height of the visor area 20A is highest above the display element 13 and decreases towards the left and right edges.

[0052] The portion of the wall section 20 with a relatively small height is located near the lower end of the meter section 10. The height of the smallest portion of the wall section 20 may be, for example, 5 mm or less, or it may be 0 mm.

[0053] Figure 3 also shows structures other than the wall section 20 that are formed integrally with the wall section 20. As mentioned above, since the wall section 20 can be formed from plastic, it is possible to manufacture the wall section 20 and other structures simultaneously using resin molding technology. The structures other than the wall section 20 shown in Figure 3 will be described later.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, the transparent cover 30 has a front portion 30A including a concave surface 32, and a side portion 30B extending from the periphery of the front portion 30A along the outside of the wall portion 20. The side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 can cover the outside of the wall portion 20 all around. The transparent cover 30 may be formed from, for example, a colorless transparent plastic (e.g., acrylic) or glass. In this embodiment, the front portion 30A and the side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 are a single integrated part.

[0055] When the meter panel unit 100 is mounted on a work vehicle, and the transparent cover 30 is viewed from the direction normal to the meter section 10, it is preferable that the front portion 30A of the transparent cover 30 is tilted forward. With such a forward tilt of the front portion 30A, when the operator looks at the meter section 10 through the transparent cover 30, the operator's face and the operator's background are less likely to be reflected in the transparent cover 30.

[0056] Because the front portion 30A of the transparent cover 30 has a concave surface 32, when the operator looks at the meter unit 10 through the transparent cover 30, the image of the driver and background reflected on the transparent cover 30 is greatly magnified and visible to the driver. This is because concave reflection occurs due to the front portion 30A of the transparent cover 30. When the information displayed by the meter unit 10 is represented by relatively small numbers, letters, figures, etc., the visibility of the displayed information decreases as the spatial frequency of the image reflected on the transparent cover 30 decreases. According to this embodiment, such a decrease in visibility can be suppressed.

[0057] The curvature ρ of the concave surface 32 of the transparent cover 30 is preferably constant in the horizontal (X-axis direction or left-right direction) and vertical (Y-axis direction or up-down direction) directions, respectively. The curvature ρ determines the magnification of the visible image. The more uniform the curvature ρ is regardless of direction, the closer the concave surface 32 becomes to a part of a sphere, and a magnified image with a natural ratio is visible. Note that the front portion 30A does not necessarily have to be concave. For example, if the front portion 30A of the transparent cover 30 is covered with an anti-reflective film, there is no need to worry about reflections, so the front portion 30A may be flat or convex.

[0058] Since the side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 extends along the outside of the wall portion 20, the side portion 30B has a height corresponding to the height of the wall portion 20. For example, the height of the portion of the side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 that covers the visor area 20A of the wall portion 20 is greater than the height of the other portions. The space defined by the front portion 30A and the side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 will be called the "internal space" of the transparent cover 30. The internal space of the transparent cover 30 has a shape and size that accommodates substantially the entire wall portion 20. As mentioned above, a single continuous three-dimensional space is formed inside the wall portion 20, surrounded by the inner wall surface of the wall portion 20, but the front side of this three-dimensional space is defined and closed by the transparent cover 30. The outside of the wall portion 20 and the inside of the side portion 30B of the transparent cover 30 may be in contact, or a gap may be formed between them.

[0059] Furthermore, water vapor present in the "internal space" may condense, causing the transparent cover 30 to fog up. To prevent such fogging, the surface of the transparent cover 30 may be coated with an anti-fog agent. Alternatively, an anti-fog effect can be obtained by providing a small opening in a part of the meter section 10 to create a fluid connection between the internal space and the outside. Note that the entire transparent cover 30 does not need to be transparent. For example, the side portion 30B does not need to be transparent.

[0060] Next, the indicator area of ​​the meter unit 10 will be described with reference to Figure 5. In the example in Figure 5, the meter unit 10 has an indicator area 14T provided above the display element 13, and indicator areas 14L and 14R provided below the display element 13. Various indicators are provided in each of the indicator areas 14T, 14L, and 14R. Each indicator displays predetermined information, such as a warning, when the light-emitting element behind it, such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), is lit.

[0061] In this embodiment, two indicator areas 14L and 14R, which are divided into left and right sections, are arranged at the bottom of the display element 13. However, a single indicator area formed by integrating the two indicator areas may also be arranged.

[0062] The indicator area 14T, located above the display element 13, is less likely to be obstructed by the spokes 222A, 222B, and 222C of the steering wheel 220 compared to the other indicator areas 14L and 14R. For this reason, it is preferable that indicators showing particularly important information (information with a high warning level) (for example, indicators showing the illumination status of lighting devices, turn signals, and warnings to the driver) are selected and placed in the indicator area 14T from among a large number of indicators. The "warning level" of the information displayed by the indicators may be defined, for example, in the owner's manual for the work vehicle. For example, information such as engine abnormalities or malfunctions, and whether the headlights are illuminated or not, have a high warning level.

[0063] In this embodiment, each indicator placed in the indicator area consists of a translucent area shaped to define a characteristic figure (including icons and / or letters) and a light-emitting element placed behind it. The indicator can be turned on or off by turning the light-emitting element behind it on or off. Behind each indicator, for example, one or two light-emitting elements are placed.

[0064] Next, an example of the display of the display element 13 will be described with reference to Figure 6. In the example in Figure 6, the display area of ​​the display element 13 is divided into several areas, as will be described later. Each area displays an "image" showing information such as the gear shift stage, vehicle speed, various function performance displays, and hour meter. This image contains various types of information represented by letters, numbers, shapes, icons, symbols, etc. Diverse digital images may be shown in different colors to enhance visibility. Furthermore, when it is particularly important to attract the operator's attention, the position, size, or color of at least one of the letters, numbers, shapes, icons, or symbols may be changed to create a highlighted display. When such a highlighted display is performed, sound or voice may be emitted from an audio device such as a speaker.

[0065] <Communication ring and endpaper> Next, with reference to Figures 7 to 9, we will describe the arc-shaped indicator (C-shaped communication ring) and the facing plate.

[0066] The meter panel unit 100 of this embodiment includes a first arc-shaped indicator (communication ring) 40A arranged around the movable area 11X of the indicator needle 2A, and a second arc-shaped indicator 40B (see Figure 10) arranged around the movable areas of the indicator needles 2B and 2C. In this disclosure, "arc" means a part of a circle (circumference), but this circle is not limited to a "perfect circle" and may include a part where the curvature changes gradually or locally, such as a part of an ellipse.

[0067] The first arc-shaped indicator 40A and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B have a symmetrical structure, and therefore, they are collectively referred to as the arc-shaped indicator 40. For simplicity, the first arc-shaped indicator (communication ring) 40A will be used as an example to explain the arc-shaped indicator 40 below.

[0068] As shown in Figure 7, the meter panel unit 100 of this embodiment includes a facing plate 50 located outside the arc-shaped indicator 40. The facing plate 50 is made of the same material (plastic) as the wall portion 20 and is an integrated part with the wall portion 20, as shown in Figure 3. When viewed from the front, the facing plate 50 has a roughly arc-shaped form. The height of the upper end 50T of the facing plate 50 changes continuously from the upper end 50A to the lower end 50B, with the maximum height at the intermediate position. The facing plate 50 is a curved wall rising from the meter portion 10. The height of the visor area 20A of the wall portion 20 from the meter portion 10 is greater than the height of the facing plate 50 from the meter portion 10. In other words, the maximum height of the visor area 20A from the meter portion 10 is greater than the maximum height of the facing plate 50 from the meter portion 10.

[0069] Figure 8 is a front view showing the arrangement of the first analog meter 11, the arc-shaped indicator 40, and the backing plate 50. Figure 9 is a front view mainly showing an example configuration of the arc-shaped indicator 40. None of the first analog meter 11, the arc-shaped indicator 40, or the backing plate 50 extend to the right (positive direction of the X-axis) of the EE dashed line shown in Figure 8. The display element 13 is arranged to the right of the EE dashed line (positive direction of the X-axis).

[0070] By adopting this configuration, it becomes possible to increase the length of the indicator needle 2A, i.e., the radius of the first analog meter 11, while suppressing the expansion of the lateral (X-axis) size of the first analog meter 11. The same applies to the second analog meter 12. However, expanding the lateral size of the meter section 10 would greatly increase the possibility that the spokes 222A and 222B of the steering wheel 220 would obstruct the visibility of the first and second analog meters 11 and 12, as shown in Figure 1B. For this reason, expanding the lateral size of the meter section 10 is undesirable. In this embodiment, by housing the analog meters inside a shape enclosed by the EE dashed line and arc, rather than a circle, it is possible to increase the lateral (X-axis) size of the display element 13 while improving the visibility of the first and second analog meters 11 and 12, even in a meter section 10 with limited lateral size. Furthermore, by separating the first and second analog meters 11 and 12 from the display element 13 with a straight line, the display areas for analog information and digital information can be clearly separated, thereby improving the visibility of both analog and digital information.

[0071] To obtain the above effects, it is preferable that the central angle of the arc of the arc-shaped indicator 40 (40A) arranged to surround the first analog meter 11 is greater than 180° and less than 270°. If the central angle of the arc is 180° or less, the visibility of the first analog meter 11 will decrease, and if the central angle of the arc is 270° or more, the reduction effect of the first analog meter 11 in the lateral direction (X-axis direction) will be insufficient. The same applies to the arc-shaped indicator 40 (40B) surrounding the second analog meter 12. From the viewpoint of design, it is preferable that the left and right arc-shaped indicators 40A and 40B are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of the display element 13.

[0072] The arc-shaped indicator 40 has at least one light-emitting region 42 positioned between the movable region 11X of the indicator needle 2A and the return plate 50. In the example shown in Figure 9, multiple light-emitting regions 42 are provided. In this example, each light-emitting region 42 has a thin, curved shape that extends in an arc. The multiple light-emitting regions 42 are arranged to form a row of arcs to form the arc-shaped indicator 40. When there is only one light-emitting region 42, that single light-emitting region 42 has an arc shape.

[0073] In the example shown in the figure, the first analog meter 11 has an arc-shaped scale 17 between the arc-shaped indicator 40 and the movable area 11X of the indicator needle 2A. This scale 17 is a three-dimensional scale that protrudes from the display surface and is integrally formed from plastic together with the wall portion 20 and the return plate 50. Note that the scale 17 does not necessarily have to be three-dimensional, but it is desirable to have a three-dimensional scale from the viewpoint of improving readability.

[0074] The multiple light-emitting regions 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 may each be formed from a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED or OLED), but in this embodiment, they are composed of multiple light-transmitting regions provided on the display surface of the meter unit 10 (i.e., the surface on the front side of the housing of the meter unit 10), and one or more light-emitting elements arranged behind them.

[0075] The multiple light-emitting elements may include multiple LEDs that emit light of different colors. In this embodiment, the multiple light-emitting elements include LEDs that emit red light, LEDs that emit green light, and LEDs that emit blue light. By selectively emitting these LEDs, the arc-shaped indicator 40 can perform the function of notifying the operator of information with light of various colors. For example, red light, green light, and blue light can be selectively emitted from all of the multiple light-emitting regions 42 shown in Figure 9. It is also possible to assign a light-emitting element to each of the multiple light-emitting regions 42 and emit light independently from the multiple light-emitting elements, thereby emitting light sequentially from the multiple light-emitting regions 42.

[0076] <3D scale> Next, the three-dimensional scale 17 will be described. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the three-dimensional scale 17 extends in an arc shape inside the arc-shaped indicator 40, roughly forming the letter C. The three-dimensional scale 17 also has a plurality of notches 17A arranged at predetermined intervals, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. These notches 17A are portions where the width of the three-dimensional scale 17 is locally reduced. The positions of the notches 17A coincide with the positions of the scale indicated by the tip of the indicator needle 2A in the first analog meter 11. The presence of such three-dimensional notches 17A makes it easier for the operator to read the scale.

[0077] As shown in Figure 7, the endpiece 50 has multiple protrusions 52 that project toward the movable area 11X of the indicator needle 2A. The multiple protrusions 52 are positioned at the cutouts of the three-dimensional scale 17, in other words, at positions that align with the scale. As a result, the cutouts 17A of the three-dimensional scale 17 are recognized as a single integrated figure with the protrusions 52, improving the visibility of the scale. Each of the multiple protrusions 52 straddles between the multiple light-emitting areas 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. Therefore, the arrangement of the multiple light-emitting areas 42 also aligns with the arrangement of the scale.

[0078] As can be seen in Figure 3, the multiple protrusions 52 connect the three-dimensional scale 17 and the end plate 50 as bridges. The end plate 50 is connected to the wall portion 20. In this embodiment, the wall portion 20, the end plate 50, and the three-dimensional scale 17 are integrally formed from resin. The multiple protrusions 52 extending from the end plate 50 define the boundaries of the multiple light-emitting regions 42 in the arc-shaped indicator 40.

[0079] Next, with reference to Figure 10, the second analog meter 12 and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B will be described. The second arc-shaped indicator 40B is symmetrical to the first arc-shaped indicator 40A, and its basic configuration is identical. A return plate (right-side return plate) 50 is provided on the outside of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B. The left-side return plate 50 is symmetrical to the return plate (left-side return plate) 50 described earlier.

[0080] Inside the second arc-shaped indicator 40B, there is an arc-shaped protrusion 17X corresponding to the three-dimensional scale 17, but this arc-shaped protrusion 17X does not have a notch. Between the arc-shaped protrusion 17X and the right-side facing plate 50, protrusions (bridges) 52 are arranged at equal intervals to define the multiple light-emitting regions 42 of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B.

[0081] The movable areas 13X of the second indicator needle 2B and the third indicator needle 2C are located within the area enclosed by the second arc-shaped indicator 40B. The rotation angle range 2BM of the second indicator needle 2B and the rotation angle range 2CM of the third indicator needle 2C have similar or congruent shapes as external dimensions. In the example of Figure 13, the rotation angle range 2BM of the second indicator needle 2B and the rotation angle range 2CM of the third indicator needle 2C are vertically symmetrical, but the example is not limited to this. The rotation angle ranges 2BM and 2CM may have shapes and sizes such that they overlap each other when one is translated vertically, for example.

[0082] By adopting this configuration, it becomes possible to intuitively read the scale from the movement of the second indicator needle 2B and the third indicator needle 2C, making reading errors less likely.

[0083] <Information Display System> The information display system 500 in the embodiment of this disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 11 to 14. Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram showing an example configuration of the information display system 500 in the embodiment of this disclosure. The information display system 500 comprises the meter panel unit 100 described above and a control device 400 that controls the meter panel unit 100. The control device 400 may include an electronic control unit (ECU) located inside the work vehicle. The information display system 500 may further include sound devices such as a buzzer and a speaker.

[0084] The information display system 500 is communicatively connected to the ECU group 610 and sensor group 620 of the work vehicle via bus B. The ECU group 610 may be collectively referred to as the "vehicle control unit." In this specification, the various ECUs of the work vehicle are referred to as "vehicle ECUs," and the ECUs in the control unit 400 of the information display system 500 are referred to as "meter ECUs" to distinguish between the two. The various vehicle ECUs and the meter ECUs can communicate with each other according to a vehicle bus standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network). For example, one vehicle ECU in the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle receives signals from other vehicle ECUs and sensor data output from each sensor included in the sensor group 620, and instructs the meter ECU to display a warning message as described later, or to light up, turn off, or flash an indicator, depending on the status of the work vehicle. The meter ECU receives instructions from the vehicle ECUs and displays a warning message in the display area, or lights up, turns off, or flashes an indicator.

[0085] In Figure 11, the diagram of wiring other than that of bus B is simplified. However, there may be wiring for directly transmitting signals from one or more sensors included in the sensor group 620 of the work vehicle to the control device 400, or wiring for connecting the input device (described later) to the control device 400. In addition, there is power supply wiring from the battery to supply power to the meter panel unit 100, the control device 400, the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle, and the sensor group 620.

[0086] Figure 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device 400. The control device 400 comprises a processing unit 434, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 435, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 436, an external I / F 437, and a communication I / F 438. These components are interconnected via a bus 439.

[0087] The processing unit 434 is a device comprising one or more semiconductor integrated circuits (e.g., processors). A processor is also referred to as a central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor. The processor sequentially executes computer programs stored in the ROM 435, performing various processes necessary for image display. The term "processor" is broadly interpreted to include FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), GPUs (Graphic Processor Units), ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), or ASSPs (Application Specific Standard Products) equipped with CPUs.

[0088] ROM435 can be, for example, writable memory (e.g., PROM), rewritable memory (e.g., flash memory), or read-only memory. ROM435 stores programs that control the operation of the processor. ROM435 does not have to be a single recording medium; it can be a collection of multiple recording media. Some of these collections may be removable memory.

[0089] RAM436 provides a workspace for temporarily unpacking programs stored in ROM435 during boot-up. RAM36 does not need to be a single storage medium; it can be a collection of multiple storage mediums.

[0090] External I / F437 is an interface for connecting the meter panel unit 100 to external devices. Examples of external I / F437 include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface and a digital or analog video interface.

[0091] The communication interface 438 is an interface for communication between the control unit 400 and other electronic components or ECUs. For example, the communication interface 438 can perform wired communication compliant with various protocols. The communication interface 438 may also perform wireless communication compliant with the Bluetooth® standard and / or the Wi-Fi® standard. Both standards include wireless communication standards that utilize the 2.4GHz frequency band.

[0092] The control device 400 may further include a memory device. The memory device may be, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory device, or an optical memory device, or a combination thereof.

[0093] The ECU group 610 installed in the work vehicle includes, for example, an ECU for speed control, an ECU for steering control, and an ECU for implement control. If the work vehicle (e.g., a tractor) is configured to operate autonomously, the ECU group 610 may further include an ECU for autonomous driving control. The autonomous driving control ECU performs calculations and controls to achieve autonomous driving based on data output from various sensors mounted on the vehicle body.

[0094] The sensor group 620 may include, for example, a temperature sensor, an illuminance sensor, a fuel sensor, a water temperature sensor, an oil level gauge, an engine speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a battery voltage sensor, a shuttle sensor, a hand accelerator sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, a main transmission lever sensor, a sub-transmission lever sensor, a seat belt sensor, a PM sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), a geomagnetic sensor, an imaging device, a LiDAR sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an obstacle contact sensor, and a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver.

[0095] The control device 400 of the information display system 500 may be an integrated circuit device mounted on a circuit board inside the meter panel unit 100, or it may be an external integrated circuit device attached to the meter panel unit 100. Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control device 400 may be implemented by one or more vehicle ECUs. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the control device 400 may be implemented by one or more servers (computers) connected via a communication network through a communication I / F 438. In this way, one or more vehicle ECUs and / or one or more servers can cooperate with the control device 400 to implement various functions required of the information display system 500. In this case, the vehicle ECUs and / or servers function as part of the information display system 500.

[0096] In the information display system 500 of this embodiment, the control device 400 is configured to display information using the arc-shaped indicator 40 before displaying various types of information on the display element 13 when the work vehicle is started. This makes it possible to prioritize the transmission of information that the operator should know first when starting up. Such information includes content indicating the status of the work vehicle (a state classified as abnormal for driving or work). The control device 400 also operates to change the color of the light it emits according to the content of the information. For example, if there is no abnormality when starting up, the control device 400 may emit blue light from the arc-shaped indicator 40, and if there is a problem with driving, for example, it may operate to emit red light immediately after starting up to indicate an abnormality. Examples of situations where there is a problem with driving include abnormal battery voltage, abnormal engine oil pressure, abnormal engine overheating, and abnormal brake system. Note that the emitted color is not limited to blue and red, but may also be green.

[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 400 is configured to display a curved image located on the extension of the arc on the display element 13. Figure 13 is a schematic front view showing an example in which an arc 13A of the same color as the light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 is displayed. As an example, Figure 13 shows an arc 13A that is concentric with the arc of the arc-shaped indicator 40. Figure 14 is a schematic front view showing an example in which an arc 13B of the same color as the light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and another shape object 13C containing an arc of the same color are displayed. In the example shown in Figure 14, the other shape object 13C is a straight line. The control device 400 displays the arc 13B, which is concentric with the arc of the light-emitting region 42, and the straight line connected to the arc 13B on the display element 13. The straight portion extends parallel to the straight line (corresponding to the EE dashed line shown in Figure 14) that defines the boundary between the first analog meter 11 and the display element 14. By displaying in this manner, the portion of the circle surrounding the first analog meter 11 that is cut off by the EE dashed line is perceived by the operator as part of the first analog meter 11, thus making the first analog meter 11 appear larger. Furthermore, the image displayed as if it were part of the first analog meter 11 (hereinafter referred to as the "ring interpolation image") may be partially obscured by numerical or character information displayed on the display element 13. Similar to other shapes 13C, the arc 13B portion may include a straight shape. Including a straight shape in the portion displayed on the display element 13 allows for a sharper design.

[0098] The control device 400 can display various images on the display element 13 in accordance with the light emitted from the light-emitting area 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40, in a manner not limited to the examples in Figures 13 and 14. Furthermore, the control device 400 can display various images on the display element 13 in synchronization with the blinking of the light-emitting area 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. By emphasizing or linking the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 with the display of the display element 13 in this way, the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 becomes easier for the operator to understand.

[0099] After the meter panel unit 100 is activated, the home screen is displayed in the display area of ​​the display element 13. Figure 15 shows an example of the home screen. Starting from the home screen, the user can use the input device described later to change the content displayed in the display area and select various setting items.

[0100] In the example shown in Figure 15, an input device 170 enabling user-interactive operation is connected to the meter panel unit 100 via a communication cable. The input device 170 includes a selector switch 171, such as a jog dial, and an operation switch 172. The input device 170 may be connected to the meter panel unit 100 wirelessly or via a wired connection. Any device that accepts user input can be used as the input device 170. The input device 170 may be, for example, a rotary switch, a slide switch, a push-button switch, a touchscreen, a joystick, or a combination of two or more of these.

[0101] The display element 13 has a display area on which various images relating to the work vehicle are displayed. Information relating to the work vehicle includes, for example, information related to the internal combustion engine, vehicle body, PTO shaft, hydraulic / three-point hitch, and electrical components of the vehicle body. This information indicates the internal state of the vehicle system. Information relating to the vehicle body includes, for example, information related to the vehicle's direction of travel, clutch, gear shift, brakes, headland control, and cruise control. Furthermore, the display area of ​​the display element 13 may display various content, such as camera images, radio setting screens, and audio setting screens.

[0102] <Segmentation of display area> Next, the segmentation of the display area will be explained with reference to Figure 16. Figure 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of display area segmentation. The display area of ​​the display element 13 is divided into multiple blocks. In other words, the display area of ​​the display element 13 has multiple regions. The multiple regions in the example shown in Figure 16 include the primary region 131, the sub-region 132, and the LCD indicator region 133. In Figure 16, the primary region 131 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 enclosed by a dotted line. The sub-region 132 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 enclosed by a dashed line. The LCD indicator region 133 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 enclosed by a dashed line. These three regions do not overlap with each other. Note that the dashed, dotted, and dashed lines in Figure 16 overlap in part for clarity.

[0103] The primary area 131 is the area for displaying the image at the forefront (or in front). In the example shown in Figure 16, the primary area 131 is a rectangular area (or a panel-shaped area). However, the shape of the primary area 131 may be, for example, an ellipse or a shape that combines straight and curved lines. The primary image showing the more important information about the work vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "key information") is displayed in the primary area 131. Key information is information that the user should be aware of as a priority, and includes, for example, information showing the direction of travel of the work vehicle, the transmission status, and the vehicle speed (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle speed").

[0104] In this way, the primary image displayed in the primary area 131 shows the main information at the forefront of the display area. As shown in Figure 15, the primary image is displayed in front of the ring interpolation image. In this manner, the primary image can effectively convey the main information to the user without being obscured by other images or content. Therefore, the visibility of the main information, which is particularly important among various pieces of information, is improved, and the likelihood of overlooking the main information is reduced.

[0105] In the example shown in Figure 16, the primary area 131 has a horizontally extending, strip-like shape. Multiple types of information regarding the driving status of the work vehicle are displayed in the primary area 131. The primary area 131 is divided into multiple areas. In the example in Figure 16, the primary area 131 is divided into the first area 131A, the second area 131B, the third area 131C, and the fourth area 131D, which are arranged horizontally.

[0106] The first area 131A, located at the far left, displays the state of the shuttle lever of the work vehicle, i.e., the direction of travel. The first area 131A displays information indicating, for example, whether the shuttle lever is in the forward (F), neutral (N), or reverse (R) position.

[0107] The second area 131B, located second from the left, displays information regarding the transmission status, such as the gear setting of a work vehicle. In the example in Figure 16, the current main and sub-transmission settings are displayed in the second area 131B with the symbol "B3". "B" indicates the sub-transmission setting stage, and "3" indicates the main transmission setting stage. The second area 131B may also display an icon 131B1 indicating that the vehicle is in automatic transmission mode, and a range of gear stages 131B2 in automatic transmission mode.

[0108] The third area 131C displays vehicle speed information. The control device 400 switches and displays the vehicle speed information in kilometers or miles, for example, according to a command from the vehicle ECU. The fourth area 131D on the far right displays information other than the direction of travel, transmission status, and vehicle speed. In the example in Figure 16, the fourth area 131D displays the hour meter reading, i.e., the operating time of the work vehicle to date. The fourth area 131D may also display information other than the hour meter reading. For example, various information such as the upper limit setting value for engine speed or the target value for engine speed recorded in memory may be displayed in the fourth area 131D. The control device 400 may be configured to dynamically change the display of the fourth area 131D according to commands from, for example, the vehicle ECU. The fourth area 131D, together with area 132B described later, dynamically displays the driving and work performance of the work vehicle. For this reason, the fourth area 131D is sometimes called the "dynamic performance monitor area".

[0109] Sub-area 132 is located below primary area 131. Various content is displayed in sub-area 132. In the example shown in Figure 16, sub-area 132 is a rectangular area that is further divided into three areas. Sub-area 132 includes performance monitor area 132A, dynamic performance monitor area 132B, and two gauge areas 132C.

[0110] The performance monitor area 132A is the largest of the three areas included in sub-area 132 and is located towards the upper part of sub-area 132. The performance monitor area 132A is sometimes referred to as the "upper area" of sub-area 132. The performance monitor area 132A mainly displays one or more items selected by the user from a variety of items indicating various functional performance information (hereinafter referred to as "selected items"). Examples of items that the user can select include engine speed, engine speed upper limit setting value, engine speed memory value, fuel consumption, fuel consumption, distance traveled, load factor, PTO shaft speed, slip ratio, diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration, and information on the working area.

[0111] The selection screen may consist of multiple pages that the user can navigate by operating an input device to advance or rewind pages. Figure 16 shows an example of multiple selection items displayed on one of several pages. In the example shown in Figure 16, four selection items are displayed on one page. However, the number of selection items displayed on one page is not limited to four; for example, there may be two, three, or five or more.

[0112] The dynamic performance monitor area 132B is located towards the bottom of the sub-area 132. The dynamic performance monitor area 132B is sometimes referred to as the "lower area" of the sub-area 132. Various items indicating the various functional performance information described above may be displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B. The display of information in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B may be controlled by a control device 400 (e.g., a meter ECU) that receives a command from the vehicle ECU, for example. The control device 400 may be configured to change the display of the dynamic performance monitor area 132B in response to a command from the vehicle ECU. As shown in Figure 16, for example, two items may be displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B. However, the number of items is not limited to two. As shown in Figure 15, nothing may be displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B.

[0113] The gauge areas 132C are located on the right and left sides of the sub-area 132. Between the two gauge areas 132C are the performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B. Each of the right and left gauge areas 132C may display a gauge image including icons and scales. Examples of gauge images include information on the remaining diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), particulate matter (PM) deposits, and tire pressure.

[0114] The images displayed in the performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B can be changed according to user operations using an input device. For example, the area corresponding to the entirety of the performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B may display camera images, images for radio or audio settings, images for front loader control, images for cylinder flow control, images for setting operating components, images for steering assist control, images for automatic steering control, images for attachment work equipment control, or a launcher image displaying a list of function items. By integrating two or more areas into a single area in this way, images and content can be displayed relatively large.

[0115] The LCD indicator area 133 is located above the primary area 131. In the example shown in Figure 16, the LCD indicator area 133 is a rectangular area, similar to the primary area 131 and the sub-area 132. The LCD indicator area 133 functions as an area for displaying information indicating the status of the work vehicle, warning information, maintenance-related information, etc. For example, an indicator that lights up when a warning condition such as a brake warning or fuel level warning is present and turns off when the condition is resolved may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. As another example, an indicator that lights up periodically to prompt the user for maintenance such as DPF regeneration or engine oil change may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. As yet another example, an indicator that requests an increase or decrease in engine speed may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. Normally, no indicators are displayed in the LCD indicator area 133, and a black background is displayed. When a condition that should display a warning or maintenance information is present, the indicator corresponding to that warning or maintenance information lights up. Up to, for example, about 10 indicators may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. The indicator can be highlighted against a black background, making it easier for operators or users to notice when an LCD indicator is activated.

[0116] The LCD indicator area 133 is located below the indicator area 14T shown in Figure 5. The indicators located in the indicator area 14T are hardware indicators that light up using light-emitting elements such as LEDs. In contrast, the indicators displayed in the LCD indicator area 133 are lit up by drawing processes on the LCD. In this specification, hardware indicators using LEDs are sometimes referred to as "LED indicators," and indicators displayed in the LCD indicator area 133 are sometimes referred to as "LCD indicators," to distinguish between the two.

[0117] The sub-region 132 shown in Figure 16 may also display images (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "pop-up images") that include messages to notify the user of the nature of an abnormality or malfunction, such as when an abnormality or malfunction of the engine or electrical components is detected, or messages to warn about the internal state of the vehicle system. The sub-region 132 may also display pop-up images that include messages indicating maintenance information.

[0118] <Display pop-up image> As shown in the example in Figure 17, the display element 13 of the meter panel unit 100 may display a pop-up image (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "pop-up image") 139 containing a message that notifies the user of the status of the work vehicle, depending on the status of the work vehicle. The pop-up image 139 is displayed, for example, in a sub-area 132 of the display area of ​​the display element 13. As described above with reference to Figure 11, one or more vehicle ECUs included in the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle receive sensor data output from each sensor included in the sensor group 620 of the work vehicle, and instruct the control device 400 (meter ECU) to display the pop-up image according to the status of the work vehicle indicated by the sensor data. The control device 400, upon receiving instructions from the ECU group 610, displays or hides the pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13. Furthermore, the control device 400 may be configured to display the pop-up image on the display element 13 without going through the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle (i.e., not in response to instructions from the ECU group 610). For example, the control device 400 may cause the display element 13 to display a pop-up image on the display element 13 that includes a message notifying the user of the status of the work vehicle (e.g., maintenance time) based on data stored in the storage device.

[0119] However, when both the control device 400 (sometimes referred to as the "first control device") that controls the meter panel unit 100 and at least one vehicle ECU (sometimes referred to as the "second control device") included in the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle attempt to notify the user by displaying a pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13, it may not be possible to effectively notify the user. For example, if the timing of displaying a pop-up image not instructed by the second control device (sometimes referred to as the "first pop-up image") and a pop-up image instructed to be displayed by the second control device (sometimes referred to as the "second pop-up image") overlap, it may be difficult for the control device 400 to appropriately select and display the pop-up image with higher priority. Therefore, high-priority notifications that should be conveyed to the user may not be displayed at the appropriate time.

[0120] In contrast, in this embodiment, both the first control unit and the second control unit can display a pop-up image containing a message in the display area of ​​the display element 13 to notify the user, but the second control unit centrally controls and manages the pop-up image to be displayed on the display element 13. Specifically, before displaying the first pop-up image on the display element 13, the first control unit sends a readiness completion notification (sometimes simply called a "completion notification") to the second control unit indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete. In response to the completion notification, the second control unit decides whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element 13. According to this embodiment, notifications with a high priority to inform the user can be displayed preferentially, so notifications to the user are made effectively.

[0121] An example of the processing performed by the first control device and the second control device in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 18A and 18B. Figure 18A is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the first control device, and Figure 18B is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the second control device.

[0122] First, refer to Figure 18A. In step S20, the first control unit determines whether the conditions for displaying the first pop-up image on the display element 13 have been met, for example, based on data stored in the first control unit's storage device. The conditions for displaying the first pop-up image on the display element 13 are predetermined and stored, for example, in the first control unit's storage device. If the first control unit determines that the conditions for displaying the first pop-up image on the display element 13 have been met ("Yes"), in step S22, it sends a ready-to-use notification to the second control unit indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete. In step S24, the first control unit receives a response (instruction) from the second control unit. Based on the instruction received from the second control unit, the first control unit controls the display on the display element 13. That is, if the second control unit instructs the first control unit to display the first pop-up image ("Yes" in step S26), the first control unit displays the first pop-up image on the display element 13 in step S28. If the second control unit instructs the first control unit not to display the first pop-up image (if the answer is "No" in step S26), the first control unit will not display the first pop-up image on the display element 13 in step S30. If the second control unit instructs the first control unit to display the second pop-up image (if the answer is "Yes" in step S32), the first control unit will display the second pop-up image on the display element 13 in step S34. If the second control unit does not instruct the first control unit to display the second pop-up image (if the answer is "No" in step S32), the first control unit will not display the second pop-up image on the display element 13 in step S35.

[0123] Next, refer to Figure 18B. In step S40, the second control device determines whether the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image on the display element 13 have been met. If the second control device determines that the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image on the display element 13 have been met ("Yes"), and receives a ready-to-use notification from the first control device ("Yes" in step S42), then in step S44, it determines whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13. If the second control device decides in step S44 to display the first pop-up image, it instructs the first control device to display the first pop-up image in step S46. If the second control device decides in step S44 to display the second pop-up image, it instructs the first control device to display the second pop-up image in step S46. If the second control unit determines that the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image on the display element 13 have been met ("Yes"), and has not received a ready-to-use notification from the first control unit ("No" in step S42), then in step S48, it instructs the first control unit to display the second pop-up image.

[0124] In step S44, the second control device may decide whether to display the first or second pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13 based on pre-assigned priorities. For example, each of the messages that notify the user of the status of the work vehicle (sometimes referred to as the "first message") included in the first pop-up image and the messages that notify the user of the status of the work vehicle (sometimes referred to as the "second message") included in the second pop-up image may be assigned a priority in advance. For example, a table showing the relationship between the type of message that notifies the user of the status of the work vehicle and its priority is stored in the storage device. Priorities may be defined in multiple levels, for example. In such a case, the second control device can decide whether to display the first or second pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13 based on the assigned priority. For example, the second control device may decide to display the pop-up image containing the message that has been assigned a higher priority among the first and second pop-up images.

[0125] The second control device monitors the status of the work vehicle and may decide whether or not to erase the first or second pop-up image displayed in the display area of ​​the display element 13, depending on the change in the status of the work vehicle. When it is no longer necessary to display the pop-up image that was being displayed due to a change in the status of the work vehicle, the second control device may instruct the first control device to switch to displaying a pop-up image with a lower priority. For example, suppose the first pop-up image is assigned a first priority and the second pop-up image is assigned a second priority which is lower than the first priority, and in step S44 the second control device decides to display the first pop-up image which has a higher priority. Subsequently, when the conditions for displaying the first pop-up image are no longer met due to a change in the status of the work vehicle, the second control device may instruct the first control device to switch from the first pop-up image to the second pop-up image which was decided not to be displayed in step S44.

[0126] In step S50, the second control device may determine the priority of the pop-up images that were decided not to be displayed in step S44. The priority here may be determined based on the pre-assigned priorities described above, or it may be determined based on the status of the work vehicle. When it is no longer necessary to display a pop-up image that was being displayed due to a change in the status of the work vehicle, etc., the second control device may display other pop-up images that were pending based on the priority determined in step S50.

[0127] Figure 18C shows another example of the processing performed by the second control unit. Detailed explanations are omitted for processes that are performed similarly to the flowchart in Figure 18B.

[0128] The second control unit may be configured to decide whether or not to display the first pop-up image not only when it determines that the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image are met, but also when it receives a ready-to-use notification from the first control unit (if "Yes" is given in step S60). When the second control unit receives a ready-to-use notification from the first control unit (if "Yes" is given in step S60), and the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image are met (if "Yes" is given in step S62), the second control unit decides in step S64 whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13. If the second control unit decides in step S64 to display the first pop-up image, it instructs the first control unit to display the first pop-up image in step S66. If the second control unit decides in step S64 to display the second pop-up image, it instructs the first control unit to display the second pop-up image in step S66. When the second control unit receives a readiness notification from the first control unit (if the answer is "Yes" in step S60), if the conditions for displaying the second pop-up image are not met (if the answer is "No" in step S62), the second control unit decides in step S68 whether or not to display the first pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13. In step S70, based on the decision in step S68, the second control unit notifies (instructs) the first control unit whether or not to display the first pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13.

[0129] In this embodiment, the second control unit centrally controls and manages whether or not to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13. An example of the processing performed by the first control unit and the second control unit when a pop-up image is displayed on the display element 13 will be described with reference to Figures 19A and 19B. Figure 19A is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the first control unit when a pop-up image is displayed on the display element 13, and Figure 19B is a flowchart showing an example of the processing performed by the second control unit when a pop-up image is displayed on the display element 13.

[0130] First, refer to Figure 19A. When the user performs an operation to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13 (which may be either the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image) (sometimes referred to as an "erasure operation") (if the answer is "Yes" in step S80), the first control unit sends a notification to the second control unit in step S82 indicating that the user has performed an erase operation (sometimes referred to as an "erasure operation notification"). In step S84, the first control unit receives a response (instruction) from the second control unit. Based on the instruction received from the second control unit, the first control unit controls the display on the display element 13. That is, if the first control unit is instructed by the second control unit to hide the pop-up image (if the answer is "Yes" in step S86), it hides the displayed pop-up image in step S88. At this time, if the first control unit is instructed by the second control unit to display another pop-up image (if the answer is "Yes" in step S92), it displays the other instructed pop-up image on the display element 13 in step S94. If the first control unit is instructed by the second control unit to continue displaying the pop-up image (in the case of "No" in step S86), it does not change the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13 in step S90.

[0131] In the example shown in Figure 17, an icon image 139B is displayed along with the pop-up image 139 in the display area of ​​the display element 13, allowing the user to hide the pop-up image 139. The user can hide the pop-up image 139 (clear operation) by, for example, selecting the icon image 139B displayed on the pop-up image 139. The second control device may be configured to further determine, when it decides to display a pop-up image in the display area of ​​the display element 13, whether or not to display the pop-up image together with the icon image for hiding the pop-up image, based on the type of message contained in the pop-up image, its priority, and the status of the work vehicle.

[0132] Next, refer to Figure 19B. When the second control unit receives a delete operation notification from the first control unit (if "Yes" is selected in step S100), in step S102, it determines whether or not to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13. The determination is made based on the type of message contained in the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13, its priority, the status of the work vehicle, etc. If the second control unit decides to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13 (if "Yes"), in step S104, it notifies (instructs) the first control unit to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13. In step S108, the second control unit decides whether or not to display another pop-up image on the display element 13. If the second control unit decides to display another pop-up image on the display element 13 (if "Yes"), in step S110, it notifies (instructs) the first control unit to display the other pop-up image on the display element 13. If the second control unit decides not to hide the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13 (i.e., to continue displaying it) (i.e., if the answer in step S102 is "No"), in step S106 it notifies (instructs) the first control unit to continue displaying the pop-up image displayed on the display element 13.

[0133] The information display systems in the above embodiments can also be retrofitted to work vehicles that do not possess those functions. Such systems can be manufactured and sold independently of the work vehicles. Computer programs used in such systems can also be manufactured and sold independently of the work vehicles. Computer programs can be provided, for example, stored in a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium. Computer programs can also be provided by download via telecommunications lines (e.g., the Internet). [Industrial applicability]

[0134] The technology disclosed herein is widely applicable to various types of work vehicles used in smart agriculture. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0135] 10... Meter section, 11... First analog meter, 12... Second analog meter, 13... Display element, 14T... Indicator area, 14L... Indicator area, 14R... Indicator area, 17... Three-dimensional scale, 20... Wall section, 30... Transparent cover, 30A... Front of transparent cover, 30B... Side of transparent cover, 40... Arc-shaped indicator, 50... Facing plate, 100... Meter panel unit, 400... Control device, 500... Information display system

Claims

1. An information display system for work vehicles, A meter panel unit having a display element, A first control device for controlling the meter panel unit, A second control device for controlling the aforementioned work vehicle, Equipped with, Each of the first and second control devices is capable of displaying a pop-up image containing a message in the display area of ​​the display element to notify the user. Before the first control device displays a first pop-up image containing a first message indicating the status of the work vehicle on the display element, it transmits a completion notification to the second control device indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete. The second control device is an information display system that, in response to the completion notification, determines whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element.

2. The second control device is When the completion notification is received at the time when preparations are complete to display a second pop-up image containing a second message indicating the status of the work vehicle on the display element, a decision is made on whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the first control device is instructed to display the determined pop-up image in the display area.

3. Each of the first and second messages is assigned a priority, The information display system according to claim 2, wherein the second control device determines, based on the priority, whether to display the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image in the display area.

4. The information display system according to claim 3, wherein the second control device determines whether to erase the first pop-up image or the second pop-up image displayed in the display area in accordance with a change in the state of the work vehicle.

5. The information display system according to claim 3, wherein, while the image of first priority among the first and second pop-up images is displayed in the display area, the second control device switches the pop-up image displayed in the display area from the image of first priority to the image of second priority which is lower than the first priority among the first and second pop-up images, in accordance with a change in the state of the work vehicle.

6. When the first control device is displaying the first or second pop-up image on the display element and the user performs an erase operation to hide the first or second pop-up image, the first control device notifies the second control device of an erase operation notification indicating that the erase operation has been performed. The second control device receives the erase operation notification from the first control device, The information display system according to claim 4, wherein whether or not the first or second pop-up image should be hidden is determined according to the type of message contained in the first or second pop-up image, or the status of the work vehicle.

7. The second control device is The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an icon image for the user to perform an operation to hide the pop-up image displayed in the display area is displayed on the display element together with the pop-up image.

8. The display element has a display area that includes a primary area for displaying a primary image showing key information about the work vehicle, and a sub-area. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second control device causes the determined pop-up image to be displayed in the sub-region.

9. The information display system according to claim 8, wherein the main information includes information indicating the direction of travel of the work vehicle, the transmission status, and the vehicle speed.

10. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the meter panel unit further comprises first and second analog meters having indicator needles, provided on both sides of the display element.

11. The information display system according to claim 10, wherein the meter panel unit further comprises an arc-shaped indicator arranged around the movable area of ​​the indicator needle.

12. A work vehicle equipped with an information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

13. A computer-based control method for displaying an image on a display element of a meter panel unit for a work vehicle, The first control device that controls the meter panel unit is instructed to prepare to display a first pop-up image containing a first message that notifies the status of the work vehicle on the display element, The first control device is instructed to send a completion notification to the second control device that controls the work vehicle, indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete, before the first pop-up image is displayed on the display element. The second control device is instructed to decide whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element in response to the completion notification. A control method including

14. A computer program executed by a computer that displays an image on a display element of a meter panel unit for a work vehicle, The computer program is installed on the computer. The first control device that controls the meter panel unit is instructed to prepare to display a first pop-up image containing a first message that notifies the status of the work vehicle on the display element, The first control device is instructed to send a completion notification to the second control device that controls the work vehicle, indicating that preparation for displaying the first pop-up image is complete, before the first pop-up image is displayed on the display element. The second control device is instructed to decide whether or not to display the first pop-up image on the display element in response to the completion notification. A computer program that executes something.

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