Information display system, image display method, and work vehicle

Abstract

To display, with good visibility, various information necessary for agricultural work.SOLUTION: An information display system for a work vehicle including a sub-transmission is disclosed. The information display system includes: a meter panel unit having a display element; and a control device that controls the meter panel unit. The control device displays, in a display region of the display element, a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of setting on one setting screen an operation of the work vehicle for each sub-transmission stage of the work vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17D

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information display system, an image display method, and a work vehicle. [Background Art]

[0002] As next-generation agriculture, research and development of smart agriculture utilizing ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and IoT (Internet of Things) is being advanced. Research and development aimed at automation and unmanned operation of work vehicles such as tractors used in farm fields are also being advanced. For example, work vehicles that travel by 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 that displays the traveling speed, the engine load state, and the state of each part of the work vehicle to notify the driver (operator) of such information.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a general meter unit for passenger cars. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-32209 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem 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, and a display method for displaying images. [Means for solving the problem]

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

[0010] [Item 1] An information display system for a work vehicle equipped with a sub-transmission, A meter panel unit having a display element, A control device for controlling the meter panel unit, Equipped with, The control device displays a graphical user interface (GUI) in the display area of ​​the display element that allows the operation settings of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle on a single setting screen. Information display system.

[0011] [Item 2] The control device displays the same number of tabs as the number of gears in the sub-transmission within the settings screen. The user can switch between the tabs to configure the operation settings for each gear of the sub-transmission. The information display system described in item 1.

[0012] [Item 3] The aforementioned sub-transmission includes three gears: Low (L), Medium (M), and High (H). The control device displays three tabs corresponding to L, M, and H on the settings screen. The information display system described in item 2.

[0013] [Item 4] The aforementioned sub-transmission includes four gears: creep (C), low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The control device displays four tabs corresponding to C, L, M, and H on the settings screen. The information display system described in item 2.

[0014] [Item 5] The aforementioned operation setting includes setting the range of main transmission stages corresponding to each stage of the sub-transmission in the automatic transmission function, as described in any one of items 1 to 4, for the information display system.

[0015] [Item 6] The operation setting includes setting an upper limit value for the engine speed per unit time corresponding to each stage of the sub-transmission, as described in any one of items 1 to 5, for the information display system.

[0016] [Item 7] The control device transmits information set for each gear of the sub-transmission to a vehicle control device that controls the work vehicle, as described in any one of items 1 to 6.

[0017] [Item 8] The display area of ​​the display element includes a primary area on which information relating to the driving status of the work vehicle is displayed. The control device displays the settings screen below the primary area. The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 7.

[0018] [Item 9] The meter panel unit comprises first and second analog meters each having an indicator needle, The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the display element is provided between the first analog meter and the second analog meter.

[0019] [Item 10] A work vehicle comprising the information display system according to any one of items 1 to 9.

[0020] [Item 11] A display method implemented in a computer that displays an image on a display element included in a meter panel unit for a work vehicle having an auxiliary transmission, the method comprising: causing a display area of the display element to display a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables operation setting of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle on a single setting screen A display method comprising the above.

[0021] [Item 12] A computer program executed by a computer that displays an image on a display element included in a meter panel unit for a work vehicle having an auxiliary transmission, the computer program causing the computer to perform: causing a display area of the display element to display a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables operation setting of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle on a single setting screen A computer program that causes the computer to execute the above step.

[0022] 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]

[0023] 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 display method for displaying images are provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [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 17A] This diagram shows an example of a home screen. [Figure 17B] This figure shows an example of a menu screen. [Figure 17C] This figure shows an example of a screen displaying settings related to the transmission. [Figure 17D] This diagram shows examples of settings for each gear of the sub-transmission. [Figure 17E] This figure shows other examples of settings for each gear of the sub-transmission. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] The meter panel unit according to the embodiment 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] <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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] Furthermore, the work vehicle 200, such as a tractor, may be configured to operate manually, automatically steered, or automatically.

[0038] <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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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 configuration examples of the wall portion 20 and the transparent cover 30 will be described below.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] <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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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).

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] <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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] <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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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 the shape object 13C, the arc 13B portion may also include a straight shape. Including a straight shape in the portion displayed on the display element 13 allows for a sharper design.

[0096] 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 shown 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.

[0097] 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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.

[0100] <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.

[0101] 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").

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] 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".

[0108] 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.

[0109] 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.

[0110] 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.

[0111] The dynamic performance monitor area 132B is located towards the bottom 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 dynamic performance monitor area 132B is sometimes referred to as the "lower area" of the sub-area 132. 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.

[0112] 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.

[0113] 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.

[0114] 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.

[0115] 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.

[0116] 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.

[0117] <Setting function for each sub-transmission gear> The transmission of the work vehicle includes a main transmission and an auxiliary transmission. Both the main transmission and the auxiliary transmission are capable of multiple gear settings. For example, the auxiliary transmission may be configured to have 2 gears (low, high), 3 gears (low, medium, high, etc.), or 4 gears (creep, low, medium, high, etc.). The main transmission may be configured to have, for example, 4, 6, or 8 gears. Furthermore, the work vehicle in this embodiment can be driven in automatic transmission mode. In automatic transmission mode, the work vehicle automatically shifts gears within a preset range of main gears. For example, the main gear is automatically switched in response to fluctuations in engine speed due to load fluctuations, raising or lowering of the work equipment, or fluctuations in the amount the accelerator pedal is pressed (or the amount the accelerator lever is tilted).

[0118] In this embodiment, various operational settings for the work vehicle can be configured for each sub-transmission gear. For example, it is possible to set the switching range of the main transmission gear in automatic transmission mode for each sub-transmission gear. It may also be possible to set an upper limit for the engine speed for each sub-transmission gear. The control device 400 of the information display system displays a graphical user interface (GUI) in the display area of ​​the display element 13 that allows the operational settings of the work vehicle for each sub-transmission gear to be configured on a single setting screen. Such a GUI allows the user to efficiently configure various settings for each sub-transmission gear. Below, an example of a GUI for configuring various settings for each sub-transmission gear will be described with reference to Figures 17A to 17E.

[0119] Figure 17A shows an example of the home screen displayed on the display element 13. Figure 17B shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the display element 13. When the user presses the menu button included in the operation switch 172 of the input device 170 (see Figure 15) from the home screen shown in Figure 17A, the menu screen 142 shown in Figure 17B is displayed.

[0120] The menu screen 142 is an example of a GUI for configuring various settings related to the operation of the work vehicle. The menu screen 142 is displayed below the primary area 131. In the example in Figure 17B, when the menu screen 142 is displayed, the vertical width of the primary area 131 decreases. This allows the menu screen 142 to be displayed more widely in the expanded area.

[0121] The menu screen 142 displays a list 143 of multiple categories classified according to the equipment or functions of the work vehicle. For example, a list 143 of categories such as transmission, engine, three-point hitch, and PTO may be displayed. The user can select one category from the multiple categories included in the list 143 by operating the selector switch 171 of the input device 170. For example, if the user operates the selector switch 171 to move the cursor to a category and presses the OK (Enter) button, the screen will transition to a screen displaying a list of multiple setting items included in that category. In the example in Figure 17B, the category 143a of "Transmission" is selected from among the multiple categories. If the OK button is pressed in this state, the screen shown in Figure 17C will be displayed.

[0122] Figure 17C shows an example of a settings screen 144 for selecting settings related to the transmission. In the example in Figure 17C, two settings items 144a and 144b are displayed for setting the range of the main gears in automatic gear shift for both road mode and field mode. The user can select one of these settings items 144a and 144b by operating the selector switch 171. For example, if the user selects item 144a for "Automatic gear shift (road mode)" and presses the OK button, the screen shown in Figure 17D will be displayed.

[0123] Figure 17D shows an example of a setting screen 134 for setting the range of main gears in automatic transmission mode for each sub-transmission gear. A single setting screen 134, as shown in Figure 17D, allows setting the range of main gears in automatic transmission mode for each sub-transmission gear. The control device 400 displays the same number of tabs 135 as the number of sub-transmission gears (4 in this example) on the setting screen 134. In the example in Figure 17D, the sub-transmission gears include four gears: creep (C), low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The control device 400 displays four tabs 135 corresponding to C, L, M, and H. The user can set the range of main gears in automatic transmission mode for each sub-transmission gear by switching the tabs 135 using the selector switch 171 on the input device 170. Figure 17D shows an example of a setting screen 134 for setting the range of the main gears when "L" is selected as the sub-gear. This setting screen 134 includes an area 136 for setting the lower limit (Bottom) of the main gears, an area 137 for setting the upper limit (Top) of the main gears, an area 138 for displaying the OK button, and an area 139 for visually displaying the set range of the main gears. The user can set the range of the main gears for each sub-gear by selecting the tab 135 corresponding to the sub-gear they wish to set, operating the selector switch 171 of the input device 170 to change the values ​​in areas 136 and 137, and pressing the OK button. Figure 17D shows an example where the range of the main gears is set to "2-7". In this example, the set range of the main gears is visually represented by the corresponding range being displayed in a prominent color in the arc-shaped image displayed in area 139. This makes it easy for the user to understand the setting range. This is merely one example of a display format, and other display formats may be adopted.

[0124] In the example shown in Figure 17D, "L" is selected, but the same settings screen 134 will be displayed even if a tab other than "L" is selected. When tab 135 is switched, the display of the settings screen 134 also switches, but the layout of the settings screen 134 is the same in all cases. By switching tabs 135, the user can set the range of the main gear corresponding to each sub-gear gear with the same operation.

[0125] In this way, settings can be configured for each gear of the sub-transmission by simple operations such as switching tabs. In this disclosure, even when multiple displays are switched by operations such as selecting tabs, it is understood that the operation settings of the work vehicle can be configured for each gear of the sub-transmission using "one setting screen," as long as the same setting screen is used.

[0126] In the example above, the sub-transmission has four gears, but it may have two, three, or five or more gears. For example, if the sub-transmission has three gears, low (L), medium (M), and high (H), the control device 400 may be configured to display three tabs on the settings screen corresponding to L, M, and H, respectively.

[0127] In the example shown in Figure 17D, the operational settings for the work vehicle, which are set for each gear of the auxiliary transmission, are the settings for the range of the main transmission gears corresponding to each gear of the auxiliary transmission in the automatic transmission function. This example is not limited to this one; the set items could also be other items, such as the upper limit of the engine speed corresponding to each gear of the auxiliary transmission.

[0128] Figure 17E shows an example of a setting screen 140 for setting the upper limit of engine speed for each sub-transmission gear. A single setting screen 140, as shown in Figure 17E, allows setting the upper limit of engine speed per unit time (e.g., 1 minute) for each sub-transmission gear. The control device 400 displays the same number of tabs 135 as the number of sub-transmission gears (4 in this example) within the setting screen 140. The user can set the range of main transmission gears in automatic transmission mode for each sub-transmission gear by switching the tabs 135 using the selector switch 171 of the input device 170. Figure 17E shows an example of a setting screen 140 for setting the upper limit of engine speed when "L" is selected as the sub-transmission gear. This setting screen 140 includes an area 141 where an image resembling a dial (knob) for setting the upper limit of engine speed is displayed, and an area 142 where a confirmation button is displayed. The user can set an upper limit for engine speed for each sub-transmission gear by selecting the tab 135 corresponding to the sub-transmission gear they wish to configure and changing the value in area 141 by operating the selector switch 171 (e.g., jog dial) on the input device 170.

[0129] In this embodiment, the menu screen shown in Figures 17B and 17C, and the settings screen shown in Figures 17D and 17E, are displayed below the primary area 131. The primary area 131 constantly displays important information such as the vehicle speed and transmission status of the work vehicle while the work vehicle is in operation. When the control device 400 displays the menu screen and the settings screen, it displays the primary area 131 more narrowly than the default state shown in Figure 17A. This allows the menu screen and the settings screen to be displayed in a wider area, improving visibility.

[0130] As described above, this embodiment makes it possible to easily configure various settings for each sub-transmission gear on a single settings screen. For example, by displaying the same number of tabs as the number of sub-transmission gears side by side, related settings can be easily configured by switching tabs. Since there is no need to switch between multiple settings pages, the effort required for setting each sub-transmission gear is reduced, and usability is improved.

[0131] The information set by the user is sent from the control unit 400 (e.g., the meter ECU) to the vehicle control unit (e.g., the vehicle ECU). The vehicle control unit controls the work vehicle according to the set information. This ensures that the information set for each gear of the sub-transmission (e.g., the range of the main gears in automatic transmission mode or the upper limit of the engine speed) is reflected.

[0132] Furthermore, the settings that can be configured for each sub-transmission gear are not limited to the range of main transmission gears in automatic transmission mode, nor to the upper limit of engine revolutions per unit time. Other settings that can be configured for each sub-transmission gear can also be improved by applying a similar GUI.

[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 a work vehicle equipped with a sub-transmission, A meter panel unit having a display element, A control device for controlling the meter panel unit, Equipped with, The control device displays a graphical user interface (GUI) in the display area of ​​the display element that allows the operation settings of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle on a single setting screen. The aforementioned operation setting includes setting the range of main gears corresponding to each gear of the sub-transmission in the automatic transmission function. Information display system.

2. The control device displays the same number of tabs as the number of gears in the sub-transmission within the settings screen. The user can switch between the tabs to configure the operation settings for each gear of the sub-transmission. The information display system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned sub-transmission includes three gears: low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The control device displays three tabs corresponding to L, M, and H on the settings screen. The information display system according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned sub-transmission includes four gears: creep (C), low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The control device displays four tabs corresponding to C, L, M, and H on the settings screen. The information display system according to claim 2.

5. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation setting includes setting an upper limit value for the engine speed per unit time corresponding to each stage of the sub-transmission.

6. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device transmits information set for each gear of the sub-transmission to a vehicle control device that controls the work vehicle.

7. The display area of ​​the display element includes a primary area on which information relating to the driving status of the work vehicle is displayed. The control device displays the settings screen below the primary area. An information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The meter panel unit has first and second analog meters, each having an indicator needle. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display element is provided between the first and second analog meters.

9. A work vehicle equipped with an information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. A display method implemented in a computer that displays an image on a display element of a meter panel unit for a work vehicle equipped with a sub-transmission, A graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the operation settings of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle to be displayed in the display area of ​​the display element on a single settings screen. Includes, The aforementioned operation setting includes setting the range of main gears corresponding to each gear of the sub-transmission in the automatic transmission function. Display method.

11. A computer program executed by a computer that displays an image on a display element in a meter panel unit for a work vehicle equipped with a sub-transmission, A graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the operation settings of the work vehicle for each gear of the auxiliary transmission of the work vehicle to be displayed in the display area of ​​the display element on a single settings screen. The computer is made to execute the above, The aforementioned operation setting includes setting the range of main gears corresponding to each gear of the sub-transmission in the automatic transmission function. Computer program.

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