Vehicle meter unit

Abstract

To provide a vehicular meter unit that can respect a driver's preference.SOLUTION: A vehicular meter unit 2 includes a liquid crystal display 5 for displaying an image, a storage part 41 for storing first image information for generating an image of a first image type for displaying traveling information, and second image information for generating an image of a second image type for displaying the same traveling information, and a display control part 43 for switching the image to be displayed in the liquid crystal display 5 between the image of the first image type and the image of the second image type.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle meter unit. [Background Art]

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with a meter unit for displaying traveling information such as vehicle speed and engine speed. Meter units include conventional analog mechanical meters, and those that display meters and the like as images on an image display device such as a liquid crystal display. When an image display device is used, an image combining displays showing various types of traveling information is displayed on the display screen of the image display device. The displayed image is generated by acquiring necessary information in accordance with a display mode. For an image corresponding to each display mode, a part image is generated from image data for displaying the information and the acquired information for each piece of information required for the display mode, and the image is generated by arranging these part images in a predetermined layout.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a meter unit using an image display device. The meter unit can switch between a normal first display mode screen and a second display mode screen on which a night view image is displayed, and displays the screen switching through animation. The second display mode screen is generated also using a night view image acquired from a night view camera. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 4442672 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] The images corresponding to each display mode are designed according to the concept of the car in which the meter unit is installed. For example, a meter unit installed in a small car aimed at young women will be designed with images that young women are likely to like. However, since drivers have various preferences, this would mean imposing a design that does not respect their preferences.

[0006] This invention was conceived under the circumstances described above, and aims to provide a vehicle meter unit that respects the driver's preferences. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical means.

[0008] The vehicle meter unit provided by the present invention is characterized by comprising: an image display device that displays an image; a storage unit that stores a first image displaying driving information and a second image which is an image displaying the driving information and is different from the first image; and a display control unit that switches the image to be displayed on the image display device between the first image and the second image.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the driving information includes engine speed.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first image is an image that displays the driving information in three dimensions, and the second image is an image that displays the driving information in two dimensions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the storage device stores two different images, a first image and a second image, which display the same driving information. The image to be displayed on the display device can be switched between the first image and the second image by the display control device. Therefore, the driver can change the image displayed on the display device to their preferred image.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle to which the vehicle meter unit according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This is an example of a flowchart illustrating the image display process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of an image displayed on the display screen when a first image type is set in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of an image displayed on the display screen when the second image type is set in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of an image displayed on the display screen when the first image type is set in the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of an image displayed on the display screen when a second image type is set in the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle 1 to which the vehicle meter unit 2 according to the first embodiment is applied. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 consists of the vehicle meter unit 2, a vehicle speed sensor 31, an engine ECU (Electric Control Unit) 32, a fuel level sensor 33, and C It is equipped with a VT (Continuously Variable Transmission)-ECU34. Note that vehicle 1 also has other components, but these are omitted from Figure 1.

[0016] The vehicle speed sensor 31 is a sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1. The vehicle speed sensor 31 generates a pulse signal synchronized with the rotation of the wheels and outputs the signal to the vehicle meter unit 2. A meter ECU 4 of the vehicle meter unit 2 calculates the vehicle speed of the vehicle 1 based on the frequency of the pulse signal input from the vehicle speed sensor 31. Note that the pulse signal of the vehicle speed sensor 31 may be input to an ECU other than the meter ECU 4, and the meter ECU 4 may acquire the vehicle speed calculated by said ECU.

[0017] An engine ECU 32 performs electronic control for controlling the engine, and is implemented by a microcomputer provided with a CPU and a memory. The engine ECU 32 controls starting and stopping of the engine, as well as the engine rotation speed. The engine ECU 32 adjusts a throttle valve to control the engine rotation speed input from an engine rotation speed sensor to a target rotation speed. The engine ECU 32 outputs the engine rotation speed detected by the engine rotation speed sensor to the vehicle meter unit 2.

[0018] A remaining fuel sensor 33 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of fuel. The remaining fuel sensor 33 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel to the vehicle meter unit 2. The meter ECU 4 of the vehicle meter unit 2 calculates the remaining amount of fuel based on the input detection signal. Note that the detection signal of the remaining fuel sensor 33 may be input to an ECU other than the meter ECU 4, and the meter ECU 4 may acquire the remaining amount of fuel calculated by said ECU.

[0019] A CVT-ECU 34 performs electronic control for controlling the continuously variable transmission, and is implemented by a microcomputer provided with a CPU and a memory. The CVT-ECU 34 detects the operation position (shift position) of a shift lever via a shift position sensor, and sets the gear ratio of the gear and the continuously variable transmission according to the detection result. The CVT-ECU 34 outputs the shift position detected by the shift position sensor to the vehicle meter unit 2.

[0020] Although not shown in the drawings, the vehicle meter unit 2 receives various pieces of driving information from other sensors and ECUs. Examples of other input driving information include navigation information, cumulative mileage, time, outside air temperature, direction indication information, parking brake information, information indicating the lighting and state of lights, seatbelt fastening / removal information, cooling water temperature, information related to fault diagnosis, and security information. Note that the driving information input to the vehicle meter unit 2 is not limited.

[0021] The vehicle meter unit 2 is a unit that processes information input from each sensor and each ECU into a state that the driver can visually understand, and then displays the processed information. The vehicle meter unit 2 is arranged on the instrument panel so as to face the driver's seat. The vehicle meter unit 2 includes a meter ECU 4, a liquid crystal display 5, and an operation switch 6.

[0022] The meter ECU 4 performs electronic control for processing and displaying driving information input from each sensor and each ECU, and is implemented by a microcomputer provided with a CPU and a memory. The meter ECU 4 causes the liquid crystal display 5 to display an image based on the input driving information.

[0023] The meter ECU 4 acquires different driving information and displays different images depending on the display mode. The display mode may be changed in response to driver operation or may be changed automatically depending on the situation. For example, the display mode can be changed by the driver to a display mode that shows fuel consumption and remaining driving range, and if an abnormality occurs, it will be automatically changed to a display mode that shows a warning. Also, when using a car navigation system, the meter ECU 4 automatically switches to the turn-by-turn display mode when car 1 approaches a right or left turn point. In the turn-by-turn display mode, the meter ECU 4 acquires information from the car navigation system (not shown) about the distance to the right or left turn point, the lane to be driven in, and the direction of the turn, and displays an image that reflects this information (see Figures 3 and 4). The meter ECU 4 switches the set display mode in response to operation by the driver using an operation device (not shown). The meter ECU 4 also switches the set display mode in response to warning signals input from other ECUs, or judgment results based on information input from sensors or other ECUs.

[0024] Furthermore, the meter ECU 4 switches the set image type in response to the operation signal input from the operation switch 6. Even in the same display mode, the meter ECU 4 displays different images depending on the set image type. The driving information shown in the displayed image is set according to the display mode, so it does not differ depending on the image type. However, the same driving information is displayed with a completely different impression depending on the set image type. In this embodiment, the meter ECU 4 can switch between four types of image types. As shown in Figure 1, the meter ECU 4 includes a storage unit 41, a drawing unit 42, and a display control unit 43.

[0025] The memory unit 41 stores programs for controlling the liquid crystal display 5, as well as image data for drawing on the liquid crystal display 5. The memory unit 41 stores first image information, second image information, third image information, and fourth image information corresponding to four types of images.

[0026] The first image information is image data for generating the first image type, themed "Advanced and High-Quality." The first image type incorporates displays and new movements that are not possible with physical meters, giving the driver a sense of depth, dimension, floating, and advanced technology. The second image information is image data for generating the second image type, themed "Clean and Refined." The second image type is a flat and orthodox design with minimal display elements, giving the driver a sense of refinement. The third image information is image data for generating the third image type, themed "Exciting and Active." The third image type is a mechanical design that gives a sense of depth towards the center, giving the driver a sense of driving enjoyment. The fourth image information is image data for generating the fourth image type, themed "Conventional." The fourth image type is a design that mimics a conventional physical meter, giving the driver a sense of the texture and instrumentation of a conventional physical meter. Note that these image types are examples and are not limited to those listed.

[0027] Each image information contains image data of the display parts for each piece of driving information. Display parts include, for example, a speedometer that displays vehicle speed, a tachometer that displays engine RPM, a fuel gauge that displays the remaining fuel level, and a shift indicator that displays the shift position. Each image information also contains layout information for each display mode. Layout information includes, for example, information that specifies the display parts (driving information) to be displayed, information that specifies the placement position of each display part, and information that specifies the size of each display part. The storage unit 41 stores this information for each piece of image information.

[0028] The display control unit 43 reads corresponding information from the storage unit 41 according to the set image type and the set display mode, and outputs the read information to the drawing unit 42. For example, if a first image type is set and the turn-by-turn display mode is set, the display control unit 43 reads image data of display parts such as the speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and shift display, as well as layout information for the turn-by-turn display mode, from the first image information.

[0029] The drawing unit 42 is a functional block for generating images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5, and is implemented, for example, by a drawing LSI. The drawing unit 42 generates images to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 based on driving information such as engine speed input from the engine ECU 32 and information read from the storage unit 41 and input by the display control unit 43. Specifically, the drawing unit 42 generates images for each display part by reflecting the content of the driving information corresponding to the image data of the display part, and then combines these in a layout according to the layout information to generate an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. The method of generating the images is not limited. The meter ECU 4 outputs the image data of the image generated by the drawing unit 42 to the liquid crystal display 5 for display.

[0030] Figure 2 is an example flowchart illustrating the image display processing performed by the meter ECU4. The image display processing is executed at predetermined intervals.

[0031] First, driving information is acquired from each sensor and each ECU (S1). Next, the set display mode is acquired (S2), and the set image type is acquired (S3).

[0032] Next, it is determined whether the image type is the first image type (S4). If it is the first image type (S4:YES), the display control unit 43 reads the corresponding information of the first image from the storage unit 41 (S5). If it is not the first image type (S4:NO), it is determined whether the image type is the second image type (S6). If it is the second image type (S6:YES), the display control unit 43 reads the corresponding information of the second image from the storage unit 41 (S7). If it is not the second image type (S6:NO), it is determined whether the image type is the third image type (S8). If it is the third image type (S8:YES), the display control unit 43 reads the corresponding information of the third image from the storage unit 41 (S9). If it is not the third image type (S8:NO), it is determined that the image type is the fourth image type, and the display control unit 43 reads the corresponding information of the fourth image from the storage unit 41 (S10).

[0033] Next, the drawing unit 42 generates an image for display on the liquid crystal display 5 (S11). Then, the generated image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 (S12). Specifically, the image data of the generated image is output to the liquid crystal display 5, and the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. As the above processes are executed at predetermined intervals, the liquid crystal display 5 displays an image as a video corresponding to the changes in each driving information. In other words, an image is displayed in which the position or angle of the displayed numerical values ​​or pointers changes according to the constantly changing vehicle speed and engine speed. Also, when the display mode or image type is switched, the displayed image is switched to the image of the corresponding display mode and image type. When the display mode is switched, an image connecting the image before the switch and the image after the switch may be generated. In this case, an image that changes like an animation is displayed. Similarly, when the image type is switched, an image connecting the image before the switch and the image after the switch may be generated, or an ending image of the image type before the switch and a starting image of the image type after the switch may be generated.

[0034] Furthermore, the image display processing performed by the meter ECU4 is not limited to that shown in the flowchart above.

[0035] The operation switch 6 is a switch for switching between image types. The operation switch 6 outputs an operation signal to the meter ECU 4 according to the operation. In this embodiment, the operation switch 6 is equipped with one push button, and outputs an operation signal each time the push button is pressed by the driver. Each time the meter ECU 4 receives an operation signal, it switches the set image type in the order of first image type, second image type, third image type, and fourth image type. Note that while driving (when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined speed), the operation switch 6 does not output an operation signal to avoid danger from operation. Alternatively, the meter ECU 4 may be configured not to accept operation signals. Note that the operation switch 6 is not limited to this. For example, the operation switch 6 may be equipped with four push buttons associated with each image type, and the meter ECU 4 may set the corresponding image type based on the input operation signal.

[0036] The liquid crystal display 5 is, for example, a TFT type transmissive liquid crystal display. However, the liquid crystal display 5 is not limited to this. The liquid crystal display 5 is located on the front side (rear side of the vehicle) of the vehicle meter unit 2. The liquid crystal display 5 has a display screen 5a that faces forward. In other words, the display screen 5a is positioned to face the driver's seat. The liquid crystal display 5 displays an image on the display screen 5a based on image data input from the meter ECU 4.

[0037] Figures 3 and 4 show examples of images displayed on the display screen 5a of the liquid crystal display 5. Both Figures 3 and 4 are examples of images in turn-by-turn display mode.

[0038] Figure 3 shows an example of an image when the first image type is set. As shown in Figure 3, the image displayed on the display screen 5a shows the speedometer 81, tachometer 82, fuel gauge 83, shift indicator 84, turn-by-turn indicator 85, odometer 86, clock 87, thermometer 88, and warning indicator 89.

[0039] The speedometer 81 is a part image generated based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 31. The speedometer 81 is located at the left end of the display screen 5a and displays the vehicle speed numerically. The tachometer 82 is a part image generated based on the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor (input via the engine ECU 32). The tachometer 82 is located in the center of the display screen 5a in the left-right direction and displays the engine speed. The tachometer 82 is displayed as a roughly cylindrical shape in three dimensions, and includes an instrument that displays numbers indicating the engine speed along the side of the roughly cylindrical shape, and a needle that is displayed superimposed on the instrument on the side of the roughly cylindrical shape as a band indicating the current engine speed at the position of its tip. Note that the needle is not displayed in Figure 3.

[0040] The fuel gauge 83 is a part image generated based on the amount of fuel remaining detected by the fuel level sensor 33. The fuel gauge 83 is located at the far right of the display screen 5a and indicates the amount of fuel remaining by the number of dots that have changed color among several dots. The shift display 84 is a part image generated based on the shift position detected by the shift position sensor (input via the CVT-ECU 34). The shift display 84 is located on the right side of the display screen 5a (between the tachometer 82 and the fuel gauge 83) and displays the shift position by its initial letter.

[0041] The turn-by-turn display 85 is a parts image generated based on navigation information input from the car navigation system. The turn-by-turn display 85 is located in the center of the display screen 5a in the left-right direction, above the tachometer 82. The turn-by-turn display 85 displays information such as the distance to the right or left turn point, the lane to be driven in, and the direction of the turn, which are input from the car navigation system, in a way that can be intuitively recognized. In Figure 3, the distance to the right or left turn point is shown numerically on the right, the lane to be driven in is indicated by making one of the arrows indicating the driving division of each lane displayed on the left a different color from the others, and the direction of the turn is indicated by a large arrow displayed between these.

[0042] The odometer 86 is a part image that shows the total mileage. The odometer 86 is located in the lower right of the display screen 5a and displays the total mileage numerically. The clock 87 is a part image that shows the time. The clock 87 is located in the upper right of the display screen 5a and displays the time digitally. The thermometer 88 is a part image that shows the outside temperature. The thermometer 88 is located in the lower left of the display screen 5a and displays the outside temperature digitally. The warning and guidance indicator 89 is a part image that shows various warnings and guidance. The warning and guidance indicator 89 is located in the upper center of the display screen 5a in the left-right direction and illuminates marks indicating various warnings and guidance.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3, when the first image type is set, the tachometer 82, which is positioned in the center of the display screen 5a and occupies a large area, is displayed as a special three-dimensional image. This image is a three-dimensional display of driving information and corresponds to the "first image" of the present invention. The first image type image is an image that incorporates displays and new movements that are not possible with physical meters, giving the driver a sense of depth, dimension, floating, and advanced technology.

[0044] Figure 4 shows an example of an image when the second image type is set. As shown in Figure 4, the image displayed on the display screen 5a shows the speedometer 91, tachometer 92, fuel gauge 93, shift indicator 94, turn-by-turn indicator 95, odometer 96, clock 97, thermometer 98, and warning indicator 99.

[0045] The speedometer 91 is a part image generated based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 31. The speedometer 91 is positioned to the right of the display screen 5a and displays the vehicle speed numerically. The fuel gauge 93 is a part image generated based on the remaining fuel amount detected by the fuel level sensor 33. The fuel gauge 93 is positioned on the right side of the display screen 5a as a semicircular level gauge on the right half, surrounding the speedometer 91. The fuel gauge 93 displays the fuel level corresponding to the remaining fuel amount as a level gauge.

[0046] The shift display 94 is a part image generated based on the shift position detected by the shift position sensor (input via the CVT-ECU34). The shift display 94 is positioned slightly to the left of the display screen 5a and displays the shift position using its initial letter. The tachometer 92 is a part image generated based on the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor (input via the engine ECU32). The tachometer 92 is positioned on the left side of the display screen 5a, surrounding the shift display 94 as a semicircular level gauge on the left half. The tachometer 92 displays the level corresponding to the engine speed as a level gauge.

[0047] The turn-by-turn display 95 is a parts image generated based on navigation information input from the car navigation system. The turn-by-turn display 95 is located in the center of the display screen 5a, between the speedometer 91 and fuel gauge 93, and the shift indicator 94 and tachometer 92. The turn-by-turn display 95 is similar to the turn-by-turn display 85 in Figure 3, with a large arrow indicating the direction of the turn at the top, a display indicating the lane to be driven in at the bottom, and the distance to the right or left turn point displayed numerically in between.

[0048] The odometer 96 is a part image that shows the total mileage. The odometer 96 is located to the lower right of the turn-by-turn display 95 and displays the total mileage numerically. The thermometer 98 is a part image that shows the outside temperature. The thermometer 98 is located to the lower left of the turn-by-turn display 95 and displays the outside temperature digitally. The warning and guidance display 89 is a part image that shows various warnings and guidance. The warning and guidance display 89 is located above the turn-by-turn display 95 and illuminates marks indicating various warnings and guidance. The clock 97 is a part image that shows the time. The clock 97 is located to the upper left of the display screen 5a and displays the time digitally.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, when the second image type is set, the image is a simple and orthodox design without excessive decoration. This image is a two-dimensional display of driving information and corresponds to the "second image" of the present invention. The second image type is a flat and orthodox design with minimal display elements, giving the driver a sense of sophistication. The diagrams and descriptions of examples of images when the third image type is set and when the fourth image type is set are omitted.

[0050] Next, the effects and benefits of the vehicle meter unit 2 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0051] According to this embodiment, the storage unit 41 stores first image information, second image information, third image information, and fourth image information corresponding to four types of images. The display control unit 43 reads the corresponding information from the storage unit 41 according to the set image type and the set display mode. The drawing unit 42 generates an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 based on the read information. The generated image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. Therefore, even when the meter ECU 4 displays an image based on the same driving information in the same display mode, it displays different images depending on the set image type. The driver can switch the set image type by operating the operation switch 6. Therefore, the driver can change the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 to their preferred image from among the four types of images. In other words, the vehicle meter unit 2 can display an image type that respects the driver's preference.

[0052] According to this embodiment, the driving information shown in the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 includes the engine speed. Therefore, the driver can recognize the current engine speed by looking at the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 5.

[0053] According to this embodiment, when the first image type is set, the image is a three-dimensional display of the driving information, and when the second image type is set, the image is a two-dimensional display of the driving information. Therefore, the vehicle meter unit 2 can allow the driver to select between the first image type and the second image type, which have completely different appearances.

[0054] In this embodiment, we have described a case where the image type can be selected from four types, but this is not the only case. The number of selectable image types may be two or three, or five or more. The more image types there are, the more the driver can select an image type that better suits their preferences. Therefore, the diverse preferences of drivers can be better satisfied. On the other hand, as the number of image types increases, the amount of information stored in the memory unit 41 increases, so the storage capacity of the memory unit 41 needs to be increased.

[0055] In this embodiment, the case in which the vehicle meter unit 2 is equipped with a liquid crystal display 5 as an image display device has been described, but it is not limited to this. The vehicle meter unit 2 may be equipped with other displays that display images, such as an organic EL display or a plasma display, instead of the liquid crystal display 5.

[0056] Figures 5 and 6 show an example of an image displayed on the display screen 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 in the vehicle meter unit 2 according to the second embodiment. The vehicle meter unit 2 according to the second embodiment further comprises a 7-segment display 52, a fuel gauge display 53, and a display panel 7, and differs from the vehicle meter unit 2 according to the first embodiment in that it displays the vehicle speed among the driving information on the 7-segment display 52 and the remaining fuel on the fuel gauge display 53. The display panel 7 is a plate-shaped member made of a transparent resin such as acrylic with black paint printed on it, and is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the liquid crystal display 5, etc. The display panel 7 comprises a light-shielding part 71 that is printed with paint and does not transmit light, and a first window 72, a second window 73, and a third window 74 which are transparent parts that are not printed with paint. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first window 72 allows the image displayed on the display screen 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 to pass through, the second window 73 allows the display on the display surface 52a of the 7-segment display 52 to pass through, and the third window 74 allows the display on the display surface 53a of the fuel gauge display 53 to pass through. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the boundaries between the display screen 5a, display surface 52a, and display surface 53a and the light-shielding section 71 are inconspicuous, so the driver is tricked into thinking there are no boundaries and perceives the display panel 7 as one large display screen. Therefore, while using a small and low-cost liquid crystal display 5, the driver can be given the impression that a large liquid crystal display is installed, giving them a sense of luxury.

[0057] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the vehicle speed is displayed on the display surface 52a of the 7-segment display 52, which is visible through the second window 73 located on the right side of the display panel 7. The remaining fuel level is displayed on the display surface 53a of the fuel gauge display 53, which is visible through the third window 74 located below the second window 73. Therefore, the display positions of the vehicle speed and remaining fuel level are fixed regardless of the image type and display mode.

[0058] Figure 5 shows an example of an image when the first image type is set. As shown in Figure 5, the image displayed on the display screen 5a shows the same part images as in Figure 3: tachometer 82, shift indicator 84, turn-by-turn indicator 85, odometer 86, clock 87, thermometer 88, and warning indicator 89. On the other hand, the image displayed on the display screen 5a does not show the speedometer 81 and fuel gauge 83.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, when the first image type is set, the tachometer 82, which is positioned in the center of the display screen 5a (which is also approximately in the center of the display panel 7) and occupies a large area, is displayed as a special three-dimensional image, giving the driver a sense of depth, dimension, floating, and advanced technology.

[0060] Figure 6 shows an example of an image when the second image type is set. As shown in Figure 6, the image displayed on the display screen 5a shows the same part images as in Figure 4: tachometer 92, shift indicator 94, turn-by-turn indicator 95, odometer 96, clock 97, thermometer 98, and warning indicator 99. On the other hand, the image displayed on the display screen 5a does not show the speedometer 91 and fuel gauge 93.

[0061] As shown in Figure 6, when the second image type is set, the image is a simple and orthodox design without excessive ornamentation, giving the driver a sense of sophistication. Note that the diagrams and explanations for examples of images when the third image type and the fourth image type are set are omitted.

[0062] The vehicle meter unit according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The specific configuration of each part of the vehicle meter unit according to the present invention can be modified in various ways. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1: car 2: Vehicle meter unit 31: Vehicle speed sensor 32: Engine ECU 33: Fuel level sensor 34: CVT-ECU 4: Meter ECU 41: Storage section 42: Drawing section 43: Display Control Unit 5: LCD display 5a:Display screen 52:7 segment display 52a:Display surface 53: Fuel gauge display 53a:Display surface 6: Operation switch 7:Display board 71: Light-shielding part 72: Window 1 73: Second Window 74: Third Window 81,91: Speedometer 82,92: Tachometer 83,93:Fuel gauge 84,94: Shift display 85,95: Turn-by-turn display 86,96: Total odometer 87,97: Clock 88,98: Thermometer 89,99: Warning / Information Display

Claims

1. An image display device that displays images, Segment display and Meter ECU and Equipped with, The meter ECU is A storage unit that stores image data of the first image displaying the engine speed, Equipped with, The first image is an image in which the engine speed is displayed as a roughly cylindrical three-dimensional part image, the scale for the engine speed is fixed to the cylindrical side portion of the part image, and the engine speed is indicated by a moving pointer superimposed on the cylindrical side portion of the part image. The segment display shows the speed, The memory unit further stores image data of a second image, which is an image displaying driving information and is different from the first image. The meter ECU further includes a display control unit that switches between the first image and the second image for the image to be displayed on the image display device. The second image is an image in which the driving information is displayed as a planar part image. The first image and the second image can be switched by operating the control switch. A vehicle meter unit characterized by the following features.

2. The vehicle meter unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned driving information is turn-by-turn display information.

Images