Information display system, work vehicle, information display method, and computer program

Abstract

This information display system for a work vehicle operating in a plurality of operation modes comprises: a meter panel unit having a digital display; and a control device for controlling the meter panel unit. The meter panel unit further includes an arcuate indicator disposed around a movable region of an indicator needle of an analog meter provided on the left or right side of the digital display. The arcuate indicator has at least one arc-shaped first light emission region. The control device receives a signal including information for identifying an operation mode of the work vehicle over a communication network installed in the work vehicle, and controls, on the basis of the information, the meter panel unit such that the color of the light emitted from the first light emission region varies according to the operation mode of the work vehicle, or the color of the light emitted from the first light emission region changes in synchronization with a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle.

Description

Information display system, work vehicle, information display method, and computer program

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

[0002] Research and development is underway on smart agriculture, which utilizes ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and IoT (Internet of Things) as the next generation of agriculture. Research and development is also underway to automate and unmanned farm vehicles such as tractors used in farm fields. For example, farm vehicles that can run with automatic steering using positioning systems such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which enables precise positioning, have been put into practical use.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art An agricultural work vehicle such as a tractor is provided with a meter panel unit in front of the driver's seat that displays the driving speed, engine load state, and the state of each part of the work vehicle to inform the driver (operator).

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a meter unit for a typical passenger vehicle.

[0005] JP 2012-32209 A

[0006] The meter panel installed on agricultural machinery such as tractors is required to accurately notify the operator of various information related to the vehicle while it is traveling or working. Furthermore, because such agricultural machinery performs various tasks outdoors, it is necessary to display more information than a general passenger car. When agricultural machinery is used for smart agriculture, it becomes necessary to display even more information. However, the more information displayed on the meter panel, the lower the visibility becomes, making it more difficult for the driver to obtain the necessary information.

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

[0008] The present disclosure provides an information display system that can solve such problems, a work vehicle equipped with the information display system, and a display method for displaying images.

[0009] The present disclosure provides the solutions described in the following items.

[0010] [Item 1] An information display system for a work vehicle that operates in multiple operating modes, comprising: a meter panel unit having a digital display; and a control device that controls the meter panel unit, wherein the meter panel unit further has: an analog meter with an indicator needle provided to the left or right of the digital display; and an arc-shaped indicator that is arranged around a movable area of ​​the indicator needle of the analog meter, wherein the arc-shaped indicator has at least one first light-emitting area that is arc-shaped, and the control device receives a signal that includes information that identifies the operating mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, and controls the meter panel unit based on the information so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area differs depending on the operating mode of the work vehicle, or so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area changes in synchronization with changes in the operating mode of the work vehicle.

[0011] [Item 2] The information display system according to item 1, wherein the control device causes the digital display to display an image corresponding to an operation mode of the work vehicle based on the information.

[0012] [Item 3] The information display system according to Item 2, wherein the image includes a pop-up image including a message notifying the user of the operation mode of the work vehicle or a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle.

[0013] [Item 4] The information display system described in any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of operation modes include an automatic driving mode in which the work vehicle is driven automatically and a manual driving mode in which the work vehicle is driven manually by a user, and the control device, based on the information, changes the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a first color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is in the manual driving mode or when the operation mode is changed from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and based on the information, changes the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a second color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is in the automatic driving mode or when the operation mode is changed from the manual driving mode to the automatic driving mode.

[0014] [Item 5] The information display system according to Item 4, wherein the first color is blue, and the second color is green.

[0015] [Item 6] The information display system according to item 4 or 5, wherein the plurality of operation modes further includes a DPF regeneration mode that performs DPF regeneration of the work vehicle, and the control device, based on the information, changes the color of the light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a third color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is the DPF regeneration mode or when the DPF regeneration mode is started.

[0016] [Item 7] The information display system according to Item 6, wherein the third color is orange.

[0017] [Item 8] The information display system according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the control device changes the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a fourth color while the control device is being reprogrammed.

[0018] [Item 9] The information display system according to item 8, wherein the control device turns off power supplied to the digital display while the control device is being reprogrammed.

[0019] [Item 10] The information display system according to item 8 or 9, wherein the control device includes a display controller that controls the digital display and a main controller that controls the overall operation of the meter panel unit, and the reprogramming includes updating software of the main controller.

[0020] [Item 11] The information display system according to any one of Items 8 to 10, wherein the fourth color is purple.

[0021] [Item 12] The information display system according to any one of Items 1 to 11, wherein the control device causes the light emitted from the first light-emitting region to flash in different patterns depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle based on the information.

[0022] [Item 13] The information display system described in any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the meter panel unit further includes: another analog meter having an indicator needle, provided on the opposite side of the digital display from the analog meter; and another arc-shaped indicator arranged around the movable area of ​​the indicator needle of the other analog meter, wherein the second arc-shaped indicator has at least one second light-emitting area having an arc shape, and the control device, based on the information, causes the first light-emitting area and the second light-emitting area to emit light of the same color when the operation mode of the work vehicle is a first operation mode included in the plurality of operation modes, and does not cause light to be emitted from the second light-emitting area when the operation mode of the work vehicle is a second operation mode included in the plurality of operation modes.

[0023] [Item 14] A work vehicle equipped with the information display system according to any one of items 1 to 13.

[0024] [Item 15] An information display method implemented in a computer for displaying information on a meter panel unit for a work vehicle that operates in multiple operating modes, wherein the meter panel unit further has: a digital display; an analog meter with an indicator needle provided on the left or right side of the digital display; and an arc-shaped indicator arranged around a movable area of ​​the indicator needle of the analog meter, wherein the arc-shaped indicator has at least one first light-emitting area that is arc-shaped; and the information display method includes: receiving a signal including information that identifies the operating mode of the work vehicle via a communications network provided on the work vehicle; and controlling the meter panel unit based on the information so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area varies depending on the operating mode of the work vehicle, or so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area changes in synchronization with changes in the operating mode of the work vehicle.

[0025] [Item 16] A computer program executed by a computer controls a meter panel unit having a digital display for a work vehicle that operates in multiple operating modes, wherein the meter panel unit further has: an analog meter with an indicator needle provided on the left or right side of the digital display; and an arc-shaped indicator arranged around a movable area of ​​the indicator needle of the analog meter, wherein the arc-shaped indicator has at least one first light-emitting area that is arc-shaped, and the computer program causes the computer to receive a signal including information that identifies the operating mode of the work vehicle via a communications network provided in the work vehicle, and control the meter panel unit based on the information so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area differs depending on the operating mode of the work vehicle, or so that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting area changes in synchronization with changes in the operating mode of the work vehicle.

[0026] A general or specific aspect of the present disclosure may be realized by an apparatus, a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, or any combination thereof. The computer-readable storage medium may include a volatile storage medium or a non-volatile storage medium. An apparatus may be composed of multiple devices. When an apparatus is composed of two or more devices, the two or more devices may be located in a single device or may be located separately in two or more separate devices.

[0027] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, there are provided an information display system capable of displaying a variety of information required during agricultural work with good visibility, a work vehicle equipped with the information display system, and a display method for displaying images.

[0028] 1 is a side view schematically showing an example of a work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a group of operation switches and an operation terminal provided inside a cabin of the work vehicle; FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing another example of a work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a meter panel unit attached behind the steering wheel located in front of the driver's seat of the work vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of main components of the meter panel unit according to the present embodiment; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a wall surface portion of the meter panel unit according to the present embodiment; FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a transparent cover of the meter panel unit according to the present embodiment; FIG. 8 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of indicators of the meter panel unit according to the present embodiment; FIG. 9 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 the present embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a control device is built into a meter panel unit. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic example in which an arc of the same color as the color of light emitted from the light emitting region of the arc-shaped indicator is displayed. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic example in which an arc of the same color as the color of light emitted from the light emitting region of the arc-shaped indicator and other shapes including an arc of the same color are displayed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic example of segmentation of the display region. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic example of the display of the arc-shaped indicator and the display element when the work vehicle is in an automatic driving mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic example of the display of the arc-shaped indicator and the display element when the work vehicle is in a DPF regeneration mode. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing some of the components of a work vehicle. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by a control device possessed by the information display system.

[0029] Hereinafter, a meter panel unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that parts that appear in multiple drawings with the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

[0030] The following embodiments are examples for embodying the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Descriptions of the size, material, shape, relative arrangement, etc. of components are intended for illustration purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The size and positional relationship of the components shown in each drawing may be exaggerated to facilitate understanding.

[0031] 1A is a side view that schematically shows an example of a work vehicle 200 according to this embodiment. The illustrated work vehicle 200 is a tractor that tows an implement (replaceable work device) 300.

[0032] The work vehicle 200 shown in FIG. 1A includes a vehicle body 201, a prime mover (engine) 202, and a transmission 203. The vehicle body 201 is provided with a traveling device including wheels 204 with tires, and a cabin 205. The traveling device includes four wheels 204, axles that rotate the four wheels, and braking devices (brakes) that brake each axle. The wheels 204 in this example 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 a plurality of wheels (crawlers) equipped with tracks rather than wheels with tires.

[0033] Inside the cabin 205, there are provided the meter panel unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a driver's seat 207, a steering wheel 220, and a group of switches for operation.

[0034] FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of an operation switch group 801 and an operation terminal 802 provided inside a cabin 205 of a work vehicle 200.

[0035] Inside the cabin, an operation switch group 801 including a plurality of switches that can be operated by the user is arranged. The operation switch group 801 includes, for example, a switch for selecting the gear stage of the main transmission or the auxiliary transmission, a switch for switching between forward and reverse, a switch for switching between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, a switch for disconnecting the left and right brakes, and a switch for raising and lowering the implement.

[0036] The operation terminal 802 is a terminal through which a user performs operations related to the travel of the work vehicle and the operation of the implements, and is also referred to as a virtual terminal (VT). The operation terminal 802 may include a touchscreen display and / or one or more buttons. The display may be, for example, a liquid crystal or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 1A , the work vehicle 200 in FIG. 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 provided, for example, on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the work vehicle 200. The cameras 270 capture images of the environment surrounding the work vehicle 200 and generate image data. The images captured by the cameras 270 may be transmitted to a terminal device, for example, for remote monitoring. The cameras 270 are provided as needed, and the number of cameras 270 is arbitrary. The LiDAR sensor 290 is an example of an external sensor that outputs sensor data indicating the distribution of objects located in the surrounding environment of the work vehicle 200. In the example of FIG. 1A , two LiDAR sensors 290 are disposed at the front and rear of the cabin 205. The LiDAR sensor 290 may also be provided in other positions (for example, the lower front portion of the vehicle body 201). While the work vehicle 200 is traveling, 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. The number of LiDAR sensors 290 is not limited to two, and may be one, three, or more. In the example of FIG. 1A , multiple obstacle sensors 295 are provided at the front and rear of the cabin 205. The obstacle sensors 295 may also be located in other locations. The obstacle sensors 295 may include, for example, a laser scanner or ultrasonic sonar. The LiDAR sensors 290 and the obstacle sensors 295 may be activated, for example, when the work vehicle 200 is traveling in autonomous driving mode. The LiDAR sensors 290 and the obstacle sensors 295 are provided as needed, and the number of each may be arbitrary. Only one of the LiDAR sensors 290 and the obstacle sensors 295 may be provided on the work vehicle 200. If they are not needed, such as when the work vehicle 200 does not have an autonomous driving function, the work vehicle 200 may not be equipped with the LiDAR sensor 290 and the obstacle sensor 295.

[0038] Work vehicle 200 further includes 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. GNSS unit 260 receives satellite signals (also referred to as GNSS signals) transmitted from multiple GNSS satellites and performs positioning based on the satellite signals. GNSS unit 260 is provided on top of cabin 205, but may be provided in another location.

[0039] 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 propulsive force and travel speed of the work vehicle 200 by changing the speed. The transmission 203 can also switch the work vehicle 200 between forward and reverse travel.

[0040] 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) axle, 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 raise and lower the three-point link using, for example, a hydraulic device, thereby changing the position or posture of the implement 300. Power can also be transmitted 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 this case, the implement can be connected to the front of the work vehicle 200.

[0041] 1A is, for example, a sprayer that sprays a chemical onto crops, but the implement 300 is not limited to a sprayer. Any implement 300, such as a mower, a seeder, a spreader, a rake, a baler, a harvester, a plow, a harrow, or a rotary, can be connected to the work vehicle 200 and used.

[0042] In this way, 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 and work status. For this reason, the information to be displayed on the meter panel unit 100 can vary in a variety of ways depending on the type and stage of the task.

[0043] The work vehicle 200 such as a tractor may be configured to travel by manual driving, automatic steering, or automatic driving.

[0044] Another example of an implement in this embodiment is a loader to which an attachment can be attached or detached. A variety of attachments can be attached to the tip of the loader depending on the type of work being performed. Examples of attachments include grabs such as a bale grab or a silage grab, forks such as a roll fork or a super pallet fork, or a bucket.

[0045] 1C is a side view that schematically shows an example of a work vehicle 200A in this embodiment. The work vehicle 200A shown in the figure is a tractor with a front loader (hereinafter simply referred to as "loader") 700 coupled to the front of the vehicle. A bucket 703 is attached as an attachment to the tip of the loader 700. Note that the loader in this embodiment is not limited to a front loader, and may be a loader coupled to the rear of the vehicle.

[0046] The loader 700 illustrated in FIG. 1C includes a support frame 701, a boom 702, a bucket 703, a bucket cylinder 704, and a boom cylinder 705. The loader 700 further includes a microcontroller 710 (see FIG. 11 ) that controls the operation of the loader. The support frame 701 is fixed to the frame of the vehicle body 201. The boom 702 has an arm-like structure and is rotatably supported on the support frame 701 so as to extend forward and upward from the vehicle. The bucket 703 is rotatably supported by the end of the boom 702. In this embodiment, the fulcrum (or rotation axis) that rotatably supports the boom 702 is called the "boom fulcrum," and the fulcrum (or rotation axis) that rotatably supports the bucket 703 is called the "bucket fulcrum."

[0047] The loader 700 in this embodiment is connected to the vehicle body 201 via a hydraulic coupler and a power connector. The loader 700 is equipped with a hydraulic system having hydraulic valves and operates under hydraulic control. Specifically, by hydraulically extending and contracting the boom cylinder 705, the boom 702 can be rotated around a rotation axis located at the boom fulcrum. This makes it possible to raise and lower the loader 700 (or the bucket 703). Furthermore, by hydraulically extending and contracting the bucket cylinder 704, the bucket 703 can be rotated around a rotation axis located at the bucket fulcrum. This makes it possible to perform scooping and dumping operations with the bucket 703.

[0048] A group of operation switches 801 (see FIG. 1B ) provided inside the cabin 205 may include an operation lever for performing the dumping operation and the scooping operation of the bucket 703. An operation joystick may be provided inside the cabin 205 for performing the dumping operation, the scooping operation, and the lifting and lowering operation of the bucket 703. The operation terminal 802 may also display a setting screen for the loader's hydraulic control valve, including a button display for adjusting the hydraulic flow rate. The operation lever, joystick, and operation terminal 802 are electrically connected to the loader's microcontroller. By operating the operation lever, joystick, and setting screen of the operation terminal 802, the user can perform desired work while operating the boom 702 and the bucket 703.

[0049] <Schematic Configuration of Meter Panel Unit> Fig. 1D is a front view schematically illustrating a meter panel unit 100 attached to a tractor, which is one type of work vehicle, in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the meter panel unit 100 is disposed in front of the driver's seat of the tractor. Specifically, the meter panel unit 100 is fitted into an opening in a meter cover 240 above a handle stay 230 that rotatably supports a 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 meter panel unit 100 is disposed in a position visible to a driver seated in the driver's seat. In the example of FIG. 1D, various pieces of information displayed on the meter panel unit 100 can be seen through an opening between the spokes 222A and 222B.

[0050] The meter panel unit 100 is required to have excellent visibility. In particular, mobile work vehicles capable of automatic steering or automatic driving are required to display various information that is not displayed in ordinary passenger cars during the course of performing various agricultural tasks. For such meter panel units 100, it is desirable to enhance their visibility so that particularly important information among the various pieces of information is not overlooked. Furthermore, when the meter panel unit 100 is mounted on various types of work vehicles, it is desirable for it to have a structure that allows for easy installation. As described below, the meter panel unit 100 of this embodiment has excellent visibility and is easy to install.

[0051] The schematic configuration of the meter panel unit 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. 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. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a wall surface portion (described later) of the meter panel unit 100. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a transparent cover (described later) of the meter panel unit 100. 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 the upward direction and the negative direction as the downward direction, and the positive direction of the X-axis may be referred to as the rightward direction and the negative direction as the leftward direction. Furthermore, the positive direction of the Z-axis may be referred to as the front direction and the negative direction as the rearward direction.

[0052] The meter panel unit 100 shown in Fig. 2 includes 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, 12. In this specification, the display portion of the meter section 10 shown in Fig. 2 may also be referred to as the display surface side of the meter section 10.

[0053] The first analog meter 11 has an indicator needle 2A, and the second analog meter 12 has indicator needles 2B and 2C. The indicator needle 2A is rotatably supported around a rotation axis located near the center of the first analog meter 11. The indicator needle 2A indicates, for example, engine speed depending on the direction in which the tip of the indicator needle 2A points. Here, "engine speed" means the number of engine revolutions per unit time (for example, one minute). The indicator needles 2B and 2C are rotatably supported around two rotation axes located at different locations on the second analog meter 12. The indicator needle 2B indicates, for example, the remaining fuel level depending on the direction in which the tip of the indicator needle 2B points. The indicator needle 2C indicates, for example, the temperature (water temperature) of the engine coolant depending on the direction in which the tip of the indicator needle 2C points. The indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C are driven by a drive unit (movement) provided in the meter unit 10. The drive unit receives an electrical signal indicating a sensor output such as engine speed, remaining fuel, or water temperature, and converts the signal into mechanical motion that changes the direction of indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C. The drive unit for each of indicator needles 2A, 2B, and 2C has an actuator such as a stepping motor.

[0054] 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, the display element 13 is assumed to be a liquid crystal display (LCD) as an example. The display element 13 has a large number of pixels arranged two-dimensionally in a display area, and light emitted from the large number of pixels creates a display visible to the human eye. In the display element 13 of this embodiment, each pixel includes RGB subpixels, allowing it to display color images. Unlike an analog meter, the display element 13 can display numbers, letters, figures, icons, symbols, still images, or moving images of any size at any position within the display area. Strictly speaking, the numbers, letters, figures, icons, and symbols are also part of the image (still image or moving image) displayed by the display element 13 in the display area. The display element 13 can also display an image that appears to resemble all or part of an analog meter with a pointer, for example. When the display element 13 displays an image of an "analog meter," it is possible to rotate the "pointer needle" in the image in any direction as part of a moving image by changing the image frame by frame. If the work vehicle is an electric vehicle driven by a battery, the displays of engine speed, remaining fuel, and water temperature can be replaced with displays of, for example, motor output, remaining battery power, and battery temperature, respectively.

[0055] The difference between the image of an "analog meter" displayed by a display device such as the display element 13 and the first analog meter 11 and second analog meter 12 is that the former is planar, while the latter is three-dimensional. Also, the former allows the shape, color, and size of the pointer and scale of the analog meter to be changed, while the latter makes it difficult to change these. Furthermore, the visibility of the former depends on the contrast of the image, so there is a possibility that visibility may be reduced in strong daytime outside light, whereas this possibility is relatively small for the latter. Taking these factors into consideration, in this embodiment, some of the information displayed on the meter unit 10, particularly information that is highly important and requires high visibility, is displayed using an analog meter with a three-dimensional structure.

[0056] When viewed from the front of the meter unit 10 on the display surface side, the outer shape of the meter unit 10 is a closed curve resembling an ellipse, but the outer shape of the meter unit 10 is not limited to this example. When viewed from the front of the meter unit 10, the outer shape of the meter unit 10 may be roughly rectangular, or may be a figure that combines straight lines and curves.

[0057] The meter panel unit 100 further includes a wall portion 20 fixed to the display surface side of the meter portion 10 and a transparent cover 30 facing the display surface of the meter portion 10 .

[0058] The wall surface portion 20 surrounds the entire first analog meter 11, the display element 13, and the second analog meter 12 along the periphery of the meter unit 10. The wall surface portion 20 may be formed from, for example, plastic (synthetic resin). The wall surface portion 20 protrudes vertically (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the display surface of the meter unit 10. The wall surface portion 20 does not need to be perpendicular to the display surface of the meter unit 10, and may be inclined from the Z axis. The distance from the display surface of the meter unit 10 to the front edge of the wall surface portion 20 (also referred to as "height") is not constant along the periphery of the meter unit 10, but may vary depending on the position on the periphery.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 4, the transparent cover 30 has a front portion 30A including a concave surface 32 and a side portion 30B extending from the peripheral edge 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 entire outside of the wall portion 20. The transparent cover 30 can 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 an integrated part.

[0060] With the meter panel unit 100 attached to the work vehicle, it is preferable that the front portion 30A of the transparent cover 30 be tilted forward when the transparent cover 30 is viewed from the normal direction of the meter section 10. With the front portion 30A tilted forward in this manner, when an operator looks at the meter section 10 through the transparent cover 30, the operator's face and the background behind the operator are less likely to be reflected in the transparent cover 30.

[0061] Next, the indicator area of ​​the meter unit 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. In the example of Fig. 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 a light-emitting element, such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) behind it, is lit.

[0062] In this embodiment, two indicator areas 14L and 14R, divided into left and right halves, are arranged at the bottom of the display element 13, but it is also possible to arrange one indicator area that combines the two indicator areas.

[0063] 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 than the other indicator areas 14L and 14R. For this reason, it is preferable that indicators indicating particularly important information (information with a high warning level) (e.g., indicators indicating the lighting status of lighting devices, direction indicators, warnings to the driver, etc.) be selected from among the many indicators and placed in the indicator area 14T. The "warning level" of the information displayed by the indicator may be specified, for example, in the work vehicle's instruction manual. For example, information such as an engine abnormality or malfunction, or whether the headlights are on or off, has a high warning level.

[0064] In this embodiment, each indicator arranged in the indicator area is composed of a light-transmitting area shaped to define a distinctive figure (including an icon and / or character) and a light-emitting element arranged behind it. The indicator can be turned on / off by turning on / off the light-emitting element behind it. For example, one or two light-emitting elements are arranged behind each indicator.

[0065] Next, a display example of the display element 13 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 . In the example of FIG. 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 a gear position, vehicle speed, various function performance indicators, and an hour meter. The image includes various pieces of information represented by letters, numbers, figures, icons, symbols, and the like. The various digital images may be displayed in different colors to improve visibility. Furthermore, when particularly attracting the operator's attention, at least one of the position, size, and color of the letters, numbers, figures, icons, and symbols may be changed to emphasize the display. When such an emphasized display is performed, a sound or voice may be emitted from an audio device such as a speaker.

[0066] <Communication Ring and Inside Plate> Next, the arc-shaped indicator (C-shaped communication ring) and inside plate will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. FIG.

[0067] 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 FIG. 10 ) arranged around the movable areas of the indicator needles 2B and 2C. In this disclosure, the term "arc" refers to a portion of a circle (circumference), but this circle is not limited to a "perfect circle" and may include a portion whose curvature changes gradually or locally, such as a portion of an ellipse.

[0068] The first arc-shaped indicator 40A and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B have a symmetrical structure, and are therefore collectively referred to as the arc-shaped indicator 40. For simplicity, the arc-shaped indicator 40 will be described below using the first arc-shaped indicator (communication ring) 40A as an example.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 7 , the meter panel unit 100 of this embodiment includes a facing plate 50 positioned outside the arc-shaped indicator 40. The facing plate 50 is formed from the same material (plastic) as the wall surface portion 20, and as shown in FIG. 3 , is an integrated component with the wall surface portion 20. When viewed from the front, the facing plate 50 has a generally arc-shaped shape. The height of the upper end 50T of the facing plate 50 (i.e., the distance from the display surface of the meter portion 10) varies continuously from the upper end 50A to the lower end 50B, reaching a maximum at the intermediate position. The facing plate 50 is a curved wall rising from the meter portion 10.

[0070] Fig. 8 is a front view showing the relative positions of the first analog meter 11, the arc-shaped indicator 40, and the faceplate 50. Fig. 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 faceplate 50 extends to the right (positive direction of the X-axis) of the E-E dashed line shown in Fig. 8. The display element 13 is disposed to the right (positive direction of the X-axis) of the E-E dashed line.

[0071] By adopting this configuration, it is possible to increase the length of the indicator needle 2A, i.e., the radius of the first analog meter 11, while suppressing an increase in the horizontal (X-axis) size of the first analog meter 11. The same applies to the second analog meter 12. Note that increasing the horizontal size of the meter unit 10 increases the likelihood that the spokes 222A, 222B of the steering wheel 220 will obstruct the visibility of the first and second analog meters 11, 12, as shown in FIG. 1D . For this reason, increasing the horizontal size of the meter unit 10 is not desirable. In this embodiment, the analog meter is accommodated within a shape bounded by the dashed line E-E and an arc, rather than a circle. This allows for an increase in the horizontal (X-axis) size of the display element 13 while improving the visibility of the first and second analog meters 11, 12, even in a meter unit 10 with a limited horizontal size. Furthermore, by dividing the boundary between the first and second analog meters 11, 12 and the display element 13 by a straight line, the display areas for analog information and digital information can be clearly separated, thereby improving the visibility of both the analog information and the digital information.

[0072] To achieve the above-described effect, 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 decreases, and if the central angle of the "arc" is 270° or more, the effect of reducing the size of the first analog meter 11 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) becomes insufficient. The same applies to the arc-shaped indicator 40 (40B) surrounding the second analog meter 12. From the standpoint of design, it is preferable that the left and right arc-shaped indicators 40A, 40B be arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of the display element 13.

[0073] The arc-shaped indicator 40 has at least one light-emitting area 42 arranged between the movable area 11X of the pointer 2A and the end cover 50. In the example shown in Fig. 9, multiple light-emitting areas 42 are provided. In this example, each light-emitting area 42 has a thin, curved shape that extends in an arc. The multiple light-emitting areas 42 are arranged to form a row of arcs to form the arc-shaped indicator 40. When there is one light-emitting area 42, the single light-emitting area 42 has an arc shape.

[0074] 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 pointer 2A. The scale 17 is a three-dimensional scale that protrudes from the display surface and is formed integrally from plastic together with the wall surface portion 20 and the end cover plate 50. Note that the scale 17 does not necessarily have to have a three-dimensional shape, but a three-dimensional scale is desirable from the perspective of improving readability.

[0075] The multiple light-emitting areas 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 formed from multiple light-transmitting areas 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.

[0076] The plurality of light-emitting elements may include a plurality of LEDs emitting light of different colors. In this embodiment, the plurality of light-emitting elements include an LED emitting red light, an LED emitting green light, and an LED emitting blue light. By selectively activating these LEDs, the arc-shaped indicator 40 can provide information to the operator using light of various colors. For example, red light, green light, and blue light can be selectively emitted from all of the plurality of light-emitting regions 42 shown in FIG. 9 . Furthermore, by assigning a light-emitting element to each of the plurality of light-emitting regions 42 and emitting light independently from the plurality of light-emitting elements, the plurality of light-emitting regions 42 can emit light sequentially.

[0077] <Three-Dimensional Scale> Next, the three-dimensional scale 17 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the three-dimensional scale 17 extends in an arc shape inside the arc-shaped indicator 40 so as to roughly form the letter C. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the three-dimensional scale 17 has a plurality of notches 17A arranged at predetermined intervals. These notches 17A are portions where the width of the three-dimensional scale 17 is locally narrowed. The positions of the notches 17A are aligned with the positions of the scale indicated by the tip of the indicator needle 2A on the first analog meter 11. The presence of these three-dimensional notches 17A makes it easier for the operator to read the scale.

[0078] 7, the inside cover 50 has multiple protrusions 52 that protrude toward the movable area 11X of the indicator needle 2A. The multiple protrusions 52 are provided at the positions of 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 an integrated figure with the protrusions 52, improving the visibility of the scale. Each of the multiple protrusions 52 straddles a space between the multiple light-emitting regions 42 in the arc-shaped indicator 40. Therefore, the arrangement of the multiple light-emitting regions 42 also aligns with the arrangement of the scale.

[0079] As can be seen in Figure 3, the multiple protrusions 52 connect the three-dimensional scale 17 and the end cover 50 as a bridge. The end cover 50 is also connected to the wall portion 20. In this embodiment, the wall portion 20, the end cover 50, and the three-dimensional scale 17 are integrally formed from resin. The multiple protrusions 52 extending from the end cover 50 define the boundaries of the multiple light-emitting regions 42 in the arc-shaped indicator 40.

[0080] Next, the second analog meter 12 and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B will be described with reference to Figure 10. The second arc-shaped indicator 40B is bilaterally symmetrical to the first arc-shaped indicator 40A, and has the same basic configuration. A facing plate (right facing plate) 50 is provided on the outside of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B. The left facing plate 50 is bilaterally symmetrical to the facing plate (left facing plate) 50 described above.

[0081] An arc-shaped protrusion 17X corresponding to the three-dimensional scale 17 is provided inside the second arc-shaped indicator 40B, but this arc-shaped protrusion 17X does not have a notch. Between the arc-shaped protrusion 17X and the right end panel 50, protrusions (bridges) 52 are arranged at equal intervals so as to define the multiple light-emitting areas 42 of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B.

[0082] The movable area 13X of the second indicator needle 2B and the third indicator needle 2C is located within the area surrounded 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 external shapes that are similar or congruent to each other. In the example of FIG. 10 , 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 this is not a limitation. The rotation angle range 2BM and the rotation angle range 2CM may have shapes and sizes that allow them to overlap each other when one is translated in the vertical direction, for example.

[0083] By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to intuitively read the scale from the movements of the second indicator needle 2B and the third indicator needle 2C, making it less likely that an error will occur in reading.

[0084] <Information Display System> An information display system 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 14B. Fig. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example configuration of the information display system 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The information display system 500 includes the above-described meter panel unit 100 and a control device 400 that controls the meter panel unit 100. The control device 400 may include an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the work vehicle. The information display system 500 may further include an acoustic device such as a buzzer or a speaker.

[0085] The information display system 500 is communicatively connected to an ECU group 610, a sensor group 620, and a loader microcontroller 710 provided in the work vehicle via a bus B. The ECU group 610 may be collectively referred to as a "vehicle control device." In this specification, the various ECUs provided in the work vehicle are referred to as "vehicle ECUs," and the ECU in the control device 400 provided in the information display system 500 is referred to as a "meter ECU" to distinguish between the two. The various vehicle ECUs and the meter ECU can communicate with each other according to a vehicle bus standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network). For example, one vehicle ECU of the ECU group 610 provided in the work vehicle receives signals from the 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 (described below) or to turn on, off, or flash an indicator depending on the state of the work vehicle. The meter ECU receives instructions from the vehicle ECU and displays a warning message in the display area, or turns on, off, or blinks an indicator.

[0086] 11 , the illustration of wiring other than the wiring of bus B is simplified. However, for example, wiring may be present for directly transmitting signals from one or more sensors included in a sensor group 620 equipped in the work vehicle to the control device 400, or wiring may be present for connecting an input device (described later) to the control device 400. In addition, power supply wiring is present for supplying power from the battery to the meter panel unit 100, the control device 400, the ECU group 610 of the work vehicle, and the sensor group 620.

[0087] One example of the control device 400 in this embodiment is a computing device including at least one processor and at least one memory that stores a computer program (code) that defines a control process executed by the processor. Another example of the control device 400 is a computing device that includes a hardware accelerator, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific standard product (ASSP), or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), configured to execute the control process.

[0088] In this embodiment, a "processor" refers to a hardware electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ISP (Image Signal Processor), or an NPU (Neural Network Processing Unit). A "memory" refers to a hardware electronic circuit such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). Part of the memory may be a storage medium connected to the processor by wiring or a network. These hardware electronic circuits may be implemented by one or more integrated circuits (ICs) or large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs). Each functional unit or block and related components in the electronic circuit may be manufactured individually as a separate integrated circuit chip, or some or all of these functional units or blocks may be combined and manufactured as a single integrated circuit chip.

[0089] The program that defines the operation of the processor is designed to cause the processor to perform one or more functions, operations, steps, or processes in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0090] 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device 400. The control device 400 includes a processor 434, a ROM 435, a RAM 436, an external I / F 437, and a communication I / F 438. These components are connected to each other via a bus 439.

[0091] The ROM 435 is, for example, a writable memory (e.g., a PROM), a rewritable memory (e.g., a flash memory), or a read-only memory. The ROM 435 stores a program that controls the operation of the processor. The ROM 435 does not have to be a single recording medium, but may be a collection of multiple recording media. Some of the collection of multiple recording media may be removable memories.

[0092] The RAM 436 provides a working area for temporarily loading the programs stored in the ROM 435 at boot time. The RAM 436 does not have to be a single recording medium, but may be a collection of multiple recording media.

[0093] The external I / F 437 is an interface for connecting the meter panel unit 100 to an external device. Examples of the external I / F 437 include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface and a digital or analog video interface.

[0094] The communication I / F 438 is an interface for communication between the control device 400 and other electronic components or ECUs. For example, the communication I / F 438 can perform wired communication in accordance with various protocols such as CAN or Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication I / F 438 may also perform wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard and / or the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. Both standards include wireless communication standards that use frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band.

[0095] The control device 400 may further include a storage device, which may be, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, or a combination thereof.

[0096] The ECU group 610 provided 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 travel in an autonomous driving mode, the ECU group 610 may further include an ECU for autonomous driving control. The ECU for autonomous driving control performs calculations and controls to achieve autonomous driving based on data output from various sensors mounted on the vehicle body.

[0097] 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 rotation sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a battery voltage sensor, a shuttle sensor, a hand accelerator sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor, a main shift lever sensor, an auxiliary shift 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.

[0098] The control device 400 of the information display system 500 may be an integrated circuit device mounted on a board inside the meter panel unit 100, or 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 via the communication I / F 438. In this way, one or more vehicle ECUs and / or one or more servers may cooperate with the control device 400 to implement various functions required for the information display system 500. In this case, the vehicle ECUs and / or servers function as part of the information display system 500.

[0099] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example in which the control device 400 is implemented inside the meter panel unit 100. In this example, the control device 400 includes two microcontroller units (MCUs). The two MCUs are a main MCU 420 and a display MCU 440. The main MCU 420 is a controller that controls the overall operation of the meter panel unit 100. The main MCU 420 may also be called a "main controller." The display MCU 440 is a controller that controls the rendering of the display element 13 (i.e., a digital display) such as an LCD. The display MCU 440 may also be called a "display controller" or an "LCU MCU."

[0100] The main MCU 420 includes components such as a CPU 424, a ROM 425, and a RAM 426. The main MCU 420 controls the hardware indicator group 140, the first analog meter 11, the second analog meter 12 (two analog meters 12A and 12B in this embodiment), and the display MCU 440. The hardware indicator group 140 includes the arc-shaped indicator 40 and a plurality of light-emitting elements, such as LEDs, located behind the indicator areas 14T, 14L, and 14R shown in FIG. 5. The ROM 425 is a non-volatile memory that stores software (programs and various data used in processing) executed by the CPU 424. The main MCU 420 controls the overall operation of the meter panel unit 100 by the CPU 424 executing the software. The main MCU 420 may include an interface for communicating with one or more vehicle ECUs connected to the meter panel unit 100 via an in-vehicle network such as a CAN. The main MCU 420 may also include an external interface that enables input and output of digital signals to and from devices directly connected to the meter panel unit 100. The main MCU 420 may further include an analog interface that receives analog signals such as the voltage of an external battery.

[0101] The display MCU 440 includes components such as a CPU 444, a GPU 443, a ROM 445, and a RAM 446. The ROM 445 is a non-volatile memory that stores software executed by the CPU 444 and the GPU 443. The display MCU 440 controls drawing on the display element 13 (i.e., the digital display) by the CPU 444 and the GPU 443 executing the software.

[0102] 13, a display MCU 440 specialized for image processing is provided separately from the main MCU 420. This is to realize relatively heavy-load drawing, such as color camera images or 3D display, on a display element 13 such as a relatively large (e.g., 10 inches or larger) and high-resolution LCU. Unlike the present embodiment, if the display element 13 is small or a monochrome liquid crystal display and does not require particularly high-level image processing, the display MCU 440 may not be provided, and one controller (i.e., the main MCU 420) may perform all control, including drawing.

[0103] <Information Display Using Arc-Shaped Indicator and Display Element> 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 information on the display element 13 when the work vehicle is started. This allows for priority transmission of information that the operator should know first during start-up. Such information includes information indicating the status of the work vehicle (conditions classified as abnormal for driving or work). The control device 400 also operates to change the color of the emitted light depending on the content of the information. For example, if there are no abnormalities at start-up, the control device 400 may emit a blue light from the arc-shaped indicator 40. However, if a driving problem occurs, the control device 400 may emit a red light indicating an abnormality immediately after start-up. Examples of driving problems include abnormal battery voltage, abnormal engine oil pressure, abnormal engine overheating, and brake system abnormalities. The light color is not limited to blue or red and may also be green.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 400 is configured to display a curved image located on an extension of the arc on the display element 13. Fig. 14A is a front view schematically illustrating an example in which an arc 13A of the same color as the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 is displayed. Fig. 14A shows, as an example, an arc 13A concentric with the arc of the arc-shaped indicator 40. Fig. 14B is a front view schematically illustrating an example in which an arc 13B of the same color as the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and another shaped object 13C including an arc of the same color are displayed. In the example shown in Fig. 14B, the other shaped object 13C is a straight line portion. The control device 400 causes the display element 13 to display the arc 13B concentric with the arc of the light-emitting region 42 and the straight line portion connecting to the arc 13B. The straight line portion extends parallel to the straight line (corresponding to the dashed line E-E shown in FIG. 14B ) that defines the boundary between the first analog meter 11 and the display element 13. By displaying the first analog meter 11 in this manner, the portion of the circle surrounding the first analog meter 11 cut off by the dashed line E-E is visually recognized by the operator as part of the first analog meter 11, making the first analog meter 11 appear larger. Furthermore, an image displayed as if it were part of the first analog meter 11 (hereinafter referred to as a "ring complement image") may be partially obscured by information such as numbers or characters displayed on the display element 13. Like the shape 13C, the arc 13B may include a straight line. Including a straight line in the portion displayed on the display element 13 allows for a sharp design.

[0105] 14A and 14B on the display element 13 in accordance with the light emitted from the light emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. The control device 400 can also display various images on the display element 13 in synchronization with the blinking of the light emitting region 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 can be more easily conveyed to the operator.

[0106] <Example of Display and Operation of Display Element> After the meter panel unit 100 is started up, a home screen is displayed in the display area of ​​the display element 13. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the home screen. Starting from the home screen, the user can use an input device (described later) to change the content displayed in the display area and select various setting items.

[0107] In the example shown in FIG. 15 , an input device 170 that enables interactive operation by a user is connected to the meter panel unit 100 via a communication cable. The input device 170 has a selector switch 171, such as a jog dial, and an operation switch 172. The input device 170 can be connected to the meter panel unit 100 wirelessly or by wire. Any device that accepts user operations 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 touch screen, a joystick, or a combination of two or more of these.

[0108] The display element 13 has a display area in which various images showing information related to the work vehicle are displayed. Information related to the work vehicle includes, for example, information related to the internal combustion engine (engine), vehicle body, PTO axle, hydraulic / three-point hitch, and electrical equipment equipped in the vehicle body. This information indicates the internal status of the vehicle system. Information related to the vehicle body includes, for example, information related to the vehicle's direction of travel, clutch, gear shift, brake, headland control, and cruise control. Furthermore, the display area of ​​the display element 13 can display various content, including, for example, camera images, a radio setting screen, and an audio setting screen.

[0109] <Segmentation of the Display Area> Next, segmentation of the display area will be described with reference to FIG. 16 . FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of segmentation of the display area. 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. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16 , the multiple regions include a primary region 131, a sub-region 132, and an LCD indicator region 133. In FIG. 16 , the primary region 131 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 surrounded by a dotted line. The sub-region 132 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 surrounded by a dashed line. The LCD indicator region 133 is the region of the display area of ​​the display element 13 surrounded by a dashed-dotted line. These three regions do not overlap each other. Note that the dashed lines, dotted lines, and dashed-dotted lines in FIG. 16 are drawn to partially overlap for ease of understanding.

[0110] The primary area 131 is an area for displaying an image in the foreground (or near side). In the example shown in FIG. 16 , the primary area 131 is a rectangular area (or a panel-shaped area). However, the outer shape of the primary area 131 may be, for example, an ellipse or a shape combining straight lines and curves. A primary image showing the more important information about the work vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "main information") is displayed in the primary area 131. The main 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").

[0111] In this way, the main information indicated by the primary image displayed in the primary area 131 is displayed at the forefront of the display area. As shown in FIG. 15 , the primary image is displayed in front of the ring complement image. In this way, the primary image can properly convey the main information to the user without being obscured by other images or content. This improves the visibility of the main information, which is particularly important among various pieces of information, and reduces the likelihood of overlooking the main information.

[0112] In the example shown in Fig. 16 , the primary area 131 has a band-like shape extending in the horizontal direction. Multiple types of information related to the traveling state of the work vehicle are displayed in the primary area 131. The primary area 131 is divided into multiple areas. In the example shown in Fig. 16 , the primary area 131 is divided into a first area 131A, a second area 131B, a third area 131C, and a fourth area 131D that are aligned in the horizontal direction.

[0113] The first area 131A located at the left end displays the state of the shuttle lever of the work vehicle, i.e., the direction of travel. For example, the first area 131A displays information indicating whether the shuttle lever is in forward (F), neutral (N), or reverse (R) position.

[0114] The second area 131B, located second from the left, displays information about the transmission status, for example, the gear setting of the work vehicle. In the example of Fig. 16, the second area 131B displays the current settings of the main gear and auxiliary gear with the symbol "B3." "B" indicates the auxiliary gear setting stage, and "3" indicates the main gear setting stage. As shown in Fig. 16, the second area 131B may also display an icon 131B1 indicating that the automatic gear shift mode is active, and a gear shift stage range 131B2 in the automatic gear shift mode.

[0115] The third area 131C displays information about the vehicle speed. The control device 400 switches the display of the vehicle speed information between kilometers and miles in accordance with a command from the vehicle ECU, for example.

[0116] The fourth area 131D on the far right displays information other than the direction of travel, transmission status, and vehicle speed. In the example of FIG. 16 , the fourth area 131D displays the hour meter reading, i.e., the work vehicle's operating time to date. The fourth area 131D may display information other than the hour meter reading. For example, various information such as the upper limit setting for the engine speed or the target engine speed value stored in memory may be displayed in the fourth area 131D. The control device 400 may be configured to dynamically change the display in the fourth area 131D, for example, in accordance with commands from the vehicle ECU. The fourth area 131D, together with the area 132B described below, dynamically displays the travel and work performance of the work vehicle. For this reason, the fourth area 131D is sometimes referred to as the "dynamic performance monitor area."

[0117] Sub-areas 132 are located below primary area 131. Various contents are displayed in sub-areas 132. In the example shown in Fig. 16, sub-areas 132 are rectangular areas that are further divided into three types of areas. Sub-areas 132 include a performance monitor area 132A, a dynamic performance monitor area 132B, and two gauge areas 132C.

[0118] The performance monitor area 132A is the largest of the three areas included in the sub-area 132 and is located toward the upper side of the sub-area 132. The performance monitor area 132A is sometimes referred to as the "upper area" of the sub-area 132. The performance monitor area 132A mainly displays one or more items (hereinafter referred to as "selected items") selected by the user from various items indicating various types of functional performance information. Examples of items that can be selected by the user include engine speed, engine speed upper limit setting value, engine speed memory value, fuel consumption, fuel economy, travel distance, load factor, PTO shaft speed, slip ratio, diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration, and information regarding the working area.

[0119] The selection item screen may be composed of multiple pages that the user can page forward or backward by operating an input device. Figure 16 shows an example of multiple selection items displayed on one of the multiple 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, and may be, for example, two, three, five or more.

[0120] The dynamic performance monitor area 132B is located toward the lower side of the sub-area 132. The dynamic performance monitor area 132B may be referred to as the "lower area" of the sub-area 132. Various items indicating the various types of functional performance information described above may be displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B. The display of information displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B may be controlled by the 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 FIG. 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 FIG. 15 , nothing may be displayed in the dynamic performance monitor area 132B.

[0121] The gauge areas 132C are located on the right and left sides of the sub-area 132. The performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B are located between the two gauge areas 132C. Each of the right and left gauge areas 132C may display a gauge image including an icon and a scale. Examples of gauge images include information regarding the remaining diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), the amount of particulate matter (PM), and the remaining tire pressure.

[0122] The images displayed in the performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B can be changed in response to user operations using an input device. For example, the area corresponding to the entire performance monitor area 132A and the dynamic performance monitor area 132B can display a camera image, an image for setting up the radio or audio, an image for controlling the front loader, an image for controlling the cylinder flow rate, an image for setting up the operation members, an image for controlling the steering assist, an image for controlling the automatic steering, an image for controlling the attachment, or a launcher image displaying a list of function items. By combining two or more areas in this way and using them as a single area, images and content can be displayed relatively large.

[0123] The LCD indicator area 133 is located above the primary area 131. In the example shown in FIG. 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, and the like. For example, an indicator that lights up when a condition requiring the issuance of a warning, such as a brake warning or a low fuel warning, occurs 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 to perform maintenance, such as DPF regeneration or engine oil change, may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. As a further example, an indicator requesting 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 requiring the display of a warning or maintenance information occurs, an indicator corresponding to the warning or maintenance information is illuminated. A maximum of, for example, approximately 10 indicators may be displayed in the LCD indicator area 133. The indicator can be displayed with emphasis on a black background, making it easier for an operator or user to notice the occurrence of the LCD indicator.

[0124] The LCD indicator area 133 is located below the indicator area 14T shown in Fig. 5. The indicators arranged in the indicator area 14T are hardware indicators that are illuminated by light-emitting elements such as LEDs. In contrast, the indicators displayed in the LCD indicator area 133 are illuminated by a drawing process on the LCD. In this specification, the LED hardware indicators are referred to as "LED indicators" and the indicators displayed in the LCD indicator area 133 are referred to as "LCD indicators," and the two may be distinguished from one another.

[0125] 16 may also display an image (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "pop-up image") containing a message to notify the user of the details of an abnormality or failure detected in the engine or electrical equipment, or a message to warn the user of the internal state of the vehicle system. Also, a pop-up image containing a message indicating maintenance information may be displayed in the sub-area 132.

[0126] <Displaying the Operation Mode of a Work Vehicle Using an Arc-Shaped Indicator> In this embodiment, the information display system 500 is applied to a work vehicle that operates in multiple operation modes. The control device 400 of the information display system 500 receives a signal containing information identifying the operation mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided on the work vehicle. Based on the received information, the control device 400 controls the meter panel unit 100 so that (i) the color of light emitted from at least one light-emitting region 42 (e.g., see FIGS. 7 to 10 ; sometimes referred to as the “first light-emitting region”) of the arc-shaped indicator 40 (e.g., see FIGS. 7 to 10 ) changes depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle, or (ii) the color of light emitted from at least one light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 changes in synchronization with changes in the operation mode of the work vehicle. The control device 400 may perform both of the controls (i) and (ii). The information display system 500 of this embodiment can communicate the operation mode and / or changes in the operation mode of the work vehicle to the driver (user or operator) of the work vehicle.

[0127] For example, a case will be described in which a work vehicle operates in multiple operation modes including a first mode and a second mode. For example, the first mode is a manual driving mode in which the work vehicle is driven manually by a user, and the second mode is an automatic driving mode in which the work vehicle is driven automatically. The "automatic driving mode" includes a case in which the work vehicle is driven by automatic steering.

[0128] "Automatic steering" means steering a work vehicle through the operation of a processing device such as a computer (which can also function as a control device), without manual operation by the driver. "Autonomous driving" means controlling the travel of a work vehicle through the operation of a processing device, without manual operation by the driver. Traveling of a work vehicle through automatic driving is called "automatic driving." The processing device may control at least one of the steering, speed adjustment, and start and stop of travel required for the travel of the work vehicle. When controlling a work vehicle equipped with an implement, the processing device may control operations such as raising and lowering the implement and starting and stopping its operation. Traveling through automatic driving may include not only travel of a work vehicle toward a destination along a predetermined route, but also travel to follow a target. An automatically driving work vehicle may travel partially based on user instructions. Part or all of the processing device may be external to the work vehicle. Communication of control signals, commands, data, etc. may occur between the processing device external to the vehicle and the work vehicle. An autonomously driven work vehicle may travel autonomously while sensing the surrounding environment without human involvement in controlling the travel of the work vehicle. A work vehicle capable of autonomous travel can travel unmanned. During autonomous travel, obstacles can be detected and obstacle avoidance operations can be performed.

[0129] For example, if the frequency with which a work vehicle operates in the second mode (e.g., automatic driving mode) tends to be lower than the frequency with which it operates in the first mode (e.g., manual driving mode), it is considered that there is a greater need to inform the user or operator that the work vehicle is operating in the second mode and that the operating mode has changed to the second mode than there is a greater need to inform the user or operator that the work vehicle is operating in the first mode. According to the information display system 500 of this embodiment, the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 can be used to effectively inform the user or operator that the work vehicle is operating in the second mode and / or that the operating mode has changed to the second mode, as described below.

[0130] Based on information identifying the operation mode of the work vehicle received via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, the control device 400 changes the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 to the color associated with the second mode while the operation mode of the work vehicle is in the second mode and / or when the operation mode of the work vehicle changes from the first mode to the second mode. For example, a first color and a second color that are different from each other and associated with the first mode and the second mode, respectively, are determined in advance. Information about the first color and the second color is stored, for example, in a storage device of the control device 400. The first color and the second color can each be selected from, for example, blue, green, orange (yellow-red), purple, and yellow. For example, the first color is blue and the second color is green. The control device 400 may continue to illuminate or flash the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 with light of the second color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is in the second mode, or may illuminate or flash the light-emitting region 42 with light of the second color only for a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds or more and 120 seconds or less) from when the operation mode of the work vehicle changes from the first mode to the second mode. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the control device 400 may turn off the light-emitting region 42. Similarly, for the first mode, the control device 400 may continue to illuminate or flash the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 with light of the first color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is in the first mode, or may illuminate or flash the light-emitting region 42 with light of the first color only for a predetermined time from when the operation mode of the work vehicle changes from the second mode to the first mode.

[0131] In this embodiment, when the color of the light emitted from the light emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 is varied depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle, it is preferable that at least the hue, among the components of "color" - hue, saturation, and brightness - shows a difference that can be perceived by an average driver (operator or user). Of course, other elements (saturation and / or brightness) may also change in accordance with the change in hue. For example, two colors associated with different operation modes may be L ＊ a ＊ b ＊ Color difference ΔE in color space ＊is preferably 13 or more, and more preferably 25 or more. ＊ is the L of two colors P and Q ＊ a ＊ b ＊ The coordinate values ​​in the color space are P(L ＊ Ｐ , a ＊ Ｐ , b ＊ Ｐ ) and Q(L ＊ Ｑ , a ＊ Ｑ , b ＊ Ｑ ) then ΔE ＊ = {(L ＊ Ｐ -L ＊ Ｑ ) ２ + (a ＊ Ｐ -a ＊ Ｑ ) ２ +(b ＊ Ｐ -b ＊ Ｑ ) ２} 1 / 2 Alternatively, two colors corresponding to different operation modes, L ＊ a ＊ b ＊ Hue angle h in color space ａｂ =tan －１ (b ＊ / a ＊ ) is preferably 30° or more, and more preferably 60° or more.

[0132] When the work vehicle operates in both manual driving mode and autonomous driving mode, the control device 400 receives a signal from an autonomous driving control ECU included in an ECU group 610 (see FIG. 11 ) equipped in the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, and determines whether the work vehicle is operating in autonomous driving mode based on the received signal. The signal can be transmitted from the autonomous driving control ECU to the control device 400 at predetermined intervals (for example, every 100 milliseconds to 1 second).

[0133] The control device 400 may control only the light emitting region 42 of the first arc-shaped indicator 40A, only the light emitting region 42 of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B, or both the light emitting regions 42 of the first arc-shaped indicator 40A and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B to change the color of light depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle or to change in synchronization with the change in operation mode. As described with reference to Figures 7 to 10, the first arc-shaped indicator 40A is disposed around the movable region 11X of the indicator needle 2A of the first analog meter 11 provided on the left side of the display element 13 (digital display), and the second arc-shaped indicator 40B is disposed around the movable regions of the indicator needles 2B, 2C of the second analog meter 12 provided on the right side of the display element 13.

[0134] In one operating mode, the control device 400 may cause the light emitting region 42 of the first arc-shaped indicator 40A and the light emitting region 42 of the second arc-shaped indicator 40B to emit light of the same color, and in another operating mode, may cause only the light emitting region 42 of either the first arc-shaped indicator 40A or the second arc-shaped indicator 40B (sometimes referred to as the "first light emitting region") to light up or flash, and may cause the light emitting region 42 of the other of the first arc-shaped indicator 40A or the second arc-shaped indicator 40B (sometimes referred to as the "second light emitting region") to turn off.

[0135] The control device 400 may blink the light emitted from the light emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 in different patterns depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle. For example, the length of the cycle in which the light emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 blinks, the ratio of the lighting time to the length of the cycle, the number of times it is lit in one cycle, etc. may be varied depending on the operation mode of the work vehicle.

[0136] The control device 400 can control the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and can display various images on the display element 13. The control device 400 can cause the display element 13 to display an image corresponding to the operation mode of the work vehicle based on information identifying the operation mode of the work vehicle received via a communication network provided on the work vehicle. The image corresponding to the operation mode of the work vehicle can be a still image or a moving image and can include numbers, letters, figures, icons, symbols, or a combination thereof. By emphasizing or linking the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 with the display of the display element 13, the operation mode of the work vehicle and / or a change in the operation mode can be more easily communicated to the user or operator. For example, the image corresponding to the operation mode of the work vehicle can be displayed in the same color as the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. In such a case, the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and the display of the display element 13 can be emphasized or linked, and a unified display can be provided to the user. For example, the control device 400 may display a pop-up image including a message notifying the user of the operation mode of the work vehicle or a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle on the display element 13, based on information specifying the operation mode of the work vehicle received via a communication network provided in the work vehicle. By displaying an image including a message (e.g., a text message), the operation mode of the work vehicle and / or the change in the operation mode can be more accurately communicated to the user or operator than when only icons, symbols, etc. are displayed.

[0137] Fig. 17A shows an example of the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and the display element 13 when the work vehicle is operating in autonomous driving mode. In the example shown in Fig. 17A, an image 132d1 indicating that the work vehicle is operating in autonomous driving mode is displayed in the sub-region 132 (see Fig. 16) of the display region of the display element 13. The image 132d1 may be displayed in the same color (second color) as the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. Furthermore, an image 132d2 that notifies the user of information related to autonomous driving is also displayed in the sub-region 132 of the display region of the display element 13.

[0138] Another example of the multiple operation modes of a work vehicle will be described. The multiple operation modes may further include a DPF regeneration mode in which a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) of the work vehicle is regenerated. Based on information identifying the operation mode of the work vehicle received via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, the control device 400 changes the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 to a third color (e.g., orange) while the operation mode of the work vehicle is the DPF regeneration mode and / or when the DPF regeneration mode has started.

[0139] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing some of the components of a work vehicle 200 to which an information display system 500 according to this embodiment can be applied. As described above, the prime mover 202 included in the work vehicle 200 is, for example, a diesel engine. The work vehicle 200 is equipped with an exhaust system 212 that discharges exhaust gas from the diesel engine 202 to the outside. The exhaust system 212 is provided with a DPF 212a that captures particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust gas. When the amount of particulate matter captured in the DPF 212a reaches a specified amount or more, "DPF regeneration" is performed to reduce the particulate matter in the DPF 212a and restore the capturing ability of the DPF 212a. For example, the particulate matter in the DPF 212a can be reduced by increasing the temperature of the exhaust gas from the engine 202 or by mixing fuel into the exhaust gas. Since DPFs and DPF regeneration are well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted here. DPF regeneration may be performed while the work vehicle 200 is parked, or while the work vehicle 200 is traveling. In this embodiment, "parked" includes a state in which the work vehicle 200 is stopped with a person inside. While DPF regeneration is being performed, the engine 202 is operating.

[0140] In the example shown in FIG. 18 , work vehicle 200 includes control device 600. Control device 600 may be a control unit including control device 400 and ECU 610a. ECU 610a is one of the ECUs included in ECU group 610 (see FIG. 11 ). ECU 610a may also be a unit that combines two or more of the ECUs included in ECU group 610. In the example shown in FIG. 18 , information display system 500 may include control device 600.

[0141] One of the sensors included in the sensor group 620 detects the amount of particulate matter trapped by the DPF 212a and outputs the sensor data to the ECU 610a. The sensor data may be output to the ECU 610a at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 100 milliseconds to 1 second). The ECU 610a calculates the amount of particulate matter in the DPF 212a or a change in the amount of particulate matter based on the received sensor data. When the ECU 610a detects that the amount of particulate matter in the DPF 212a is decreasing, the ECU 610a determines that the operating mode of the work vehicle 200 is the DPF regeneration mode and transmits a signal to the control device 400 to change the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 to a third color. The control device 400 receives a signal from the ECU 610a via a communication network provided in the work vehicle and controls the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and the display of the display element 13 based on the received signal. The display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 allows the user or operator to know that the DPF regeneration mode is in progress or that the DPF regeneration mode has started, and therefore, for example, allows work using the work vehicle 200 to be suspended while the DPF regeneration is in progress.

[0142] 17B is an example of the display of the arc-shaped indicator 40 and the display element 13 when the work vehicle is operating in DPF regeneration mode. In the example shown in FIG. 17B, an icon 131p indicating that the work vehicle is operating in DPF regeneration mode (i.e., that DPF regeneration is being performed) is displayed as an LCD indicator in the LCD indicator area 133 (see FIG. 16). The icon 131p may be displayed in the same color (third color) as the light-emitting area 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40. Furthermore, a pop-up image 139d including a message notifying the user of information related to DPF regeneration is displayed in a sub-area 132 of the display area of ​​the display element 13 (see FIG. 16).

[0143] The control device 400 may further perform the following controls. For example, while the control device 400 is being reprogrammed (i.e., software is updated), the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 may be changed to a fourth color (e.g., purple). Reprogramming of the control device 400 is not performed while the work vehicle is traveling or performing a work operation, but may be performed while the work vehicle is stopped. For example, if the control device 400 includes two MCUs (main MCU 420 and display MCU 440) as in the example of FIG. 13, reprogramming of the control device 400 may include updating the software of the main MCU 420 (main controller). Reprogramming may also include updating the software of the display MCU 440 (display controller). Furthermore, while the control device 400 is being reprogrammed, the control device 400 may reduce the power supplied to the display element 13 to zero (i.e., turn off the power supply to the display element 13). At this time, the display area of ​​the display element 13 appears, for example, entirely black. In other words, while the control device 400 is being reprogrammed, the display area of ​​the display element 13 does not need to display any information relating to the work vehicle that is normally displayed.

[0144] An example of processing performed by the control device 400 of the information display system 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 19. Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the control device 400 of the information display system 500.

[0145] In step S10, the control device 400 receives a signal including information specifying the operation mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle. The signal may be received at predetermined time intervals. In step S12, the control device 400 determines whether the operation mode of the work vehicle has been changed based on the information received in step S10. If it is determined that the operation mode of the work vehicle has been changed (if "Yes" in step S12), the control device 400 changes the color of light emitted from the light-emitting region 42 of the arc-shaped indicator 40 in step S14. For example, the control device 400 lights up or flashes the light of a color associated with the changed operation mode. For example, different colors associated with each of a plurality of operation modes are predetermined and stored in the storage device of the control device 400. The settings of whether the light-emitting region 42 lights up or flashes, the flashing pattern, etc. may also be predetermined for each operation mode.

[0146] If the light-emitting area 42 is to be turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation mode was changed (Yes in step S16), then in step S18, the control device 400 turns off the light-emitting area 42 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation mode was changed. Whether or not the light-emitting area 42 is to be turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation mode was changed may be set based on, for example, a user input.

[0147] The control device 400 repeats the processes of steps S10, S12, S14, S16 and S18 while the meter panel unit 100 is operating until an end command is issued (step S20).

[0148] The information display system in the above embodiments can also be retrofitted to a work vehicle that does not have these functions. Such a system can be manufactured and sold independently of the work vehicle. The computer program used in such a system can also be manufactured and sold independently of the work vehicle. The computer program can be provided, for example, by being stored on a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium. The computer program can also be provided by downloading via a telecommunications line (for example, the Internet).

[0149] The technology of the present disclosure is widely applicable to various types of work vehicles used in smart agriculture.

[0150] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 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 surface section, 30: Transparent cover, 30A: Front section of transparent cover, 30B: Side section of transparent cover, 40: Arc-shaped indicator, 50: End cover, 100: Meter panel unit, 400: Control device, 500: Information display system

Claims

1. An information display system for a work vehicle that operates in a plurality of operation modes, comprising: a meter panel unit having a digital display; and a control device that controls the meter panel unit, wherein the meter panel unit further includes: an analog meter having an indicating needle provided on the left or right side of the digital display; and an arc-shaped indicator disposed around a movable region of the indicating needle of the analog meter, the arc-shaped indicator having at least one first light-emitting region in an arc shape, and the control device receives a signal including information specifying an operation mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, and controls the meter panel unit based on the information such that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region is different according to the operation mode of the work vehicle or such that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region changes in synchronization with a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle.

2. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control device causes an image corresponding to the operation mode of the work vehicle to be displayed on the digital display based on the information.

3. The information display system according to claim 2, wherein the image includes a pop-up image including a message for notifying the user of the operation mode of the work vehicle or a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle.

4. The plurality of operation modes include an automatic driving mode in which the work vehicle travels by automatic driving and a manual driving mode in which the work vehicle travels by manual operation of the user, and the control device, based on the information, sets the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a first color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is the manual driving mode or when the operation mode is changed from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode, and sets the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a second color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is the automatic driving mode or when the operation mode is changed from the manual driving mode to the automatic driving mode. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The information display system according to claim 4, wherein the first color is blue and the second color is green.

6. The plurality of operation modes further includes a DPF regeneration mode for performing DPF regeneration of the work vehicle, and the control device changes the color of the light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a third color while the operation mode of the work vehicle is the DPF regeneration mode or when the DPF regeneration mode is started, based on the information. The information display system according to claim 4.

7. The third color is orange. The information display system according to claim 6.

8. The control device changes the color of the light emitted from the first light-emitting region to a fourth color while reprogramming of the control device is being performed. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The control device sets the power supplied to the digital display to zero while reprogramming of the control device is being performed. The information display system according to claim 8.

10. The control device includes a display controller that controls the digital display and a main controller that controls the overall operation of the meter panel unit, and the reprogramming includes an update of the software of the main controller. The information display system according to claim 8.

11. The fourth color is purple. The information display system according to claim 8.

12. The control device blinks the light emitted from the first light-emitting region in different patterns according to the operation mode of the work vehicle, based on the information. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

13. The meter panel unit further includes another analog meter having an indicating needle provided on the side of the digital display opposite to the analog meter, and another arc-shaped indicator disposed around a movable region of the indicating needle of the another analog meter. The another arc-shaped indicator has at least one arc-shaped second light-emitting region. The control device causes the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region to emit light of the same color based on the information when the operation mode of the work vehicle is a first operation mode included in the plurality of operation modes, and does not cause the second light-emitting region to emit light when the operation mode of the work vehicle is a second operation mode included in the plurality of operation modes. The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. A work vehicle including the information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

15. A method implemented on a computer for displaying information on a meter panel unit for a work vehicle operating in a plurality of operation modes, the meter panel unit including the digital display, an analog meter having an indicating needle provided on the left or right side of the digital display, and an arc-shaped indicator disposed around a movable region of the indicating needle of the analog meter. The arc-shaped indicator has at least one arc-shaped first light-emitting region. The method includes receiving a signal including information specifying an operation mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, and controlling the meter panel unit based on the information such that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region varies according to the operation mode of the work vehicle or such that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region changes in synchronization with a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle. The information display method.

16. A computer program executed by a computer for controlling a meter panel unit having a digital display for a work vehicle operating in a plurality of operation modes, wherein the meter panel unit further includes: an analog meter having an indicating needle provided on the left or right side of the digital display; and an arc-shaped indicator disposed around a movable region of the indicating needle of the first analog meter, the arc-shaped indicator having at least one first light-emitting region in an arc shape, and the computer program causes the computer to receive a signal including information specifying an operation mode of the work vehicle via a communication network provided in the work vehicle, and based on the information, control the meter panel unit such that the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region is different according to the operation mode of the work vehicle or the color of light emitted from the first light-emitting region changes in synchronization with a change in the operation mode of the work vehicle.

Images