JP2009280142A - In-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus that eliminates the driver's selecting actions and displays necessary information corresponding to the vehicle's condition and running environment. <P>SOLUTION: The in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus includes an navigator body 1 that performs navigation based on externally acquired vehicular information, an image display section 2 that displays an instrument panel image of the vehicle, and an image display control section 3 connected to the navigator body 1 via a communication line 4, changing display mode of the instrument panel image to be displayed on the image display section 2 based on vehicular information acquired from the navigation body 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle instrument panel image display device capable of changing the design of an image displayed on an instrument panel of a vehicle.

  An instrument panel incorporating various meters such as a speed meter, a tachometer, and a fuel meter is provided in front of the steering wheel of the vehicle driver's seat. However, when there are many mechanical parts such as a tachometer, there is a high possibility of failure and the reliability is low. For this reason, recently, an in-vehicle instrument panel image display device that can display an instrument panel image in which various meters described above are laid out as display data on a display monitor in full color has appeared and has become vivid.

By the way, since the conventional instrument panel image displayed on the display monitor is arranged or displayed in a fixed layout, the driver may get bored with the meter design.
Also, depending on the situation, unnecessary information continues to be displayed, and necessary information is not displayed when necessary. This may cause confusion for the driver during driving, leading to a reduction in safety and visibility.

  For this reason, conventionally, an instrument panel image selection apparatus that can freely select an instrument panel image according to the user's preference has been proposed. According to this instrument panel image selection device, information required by the driver during vehicle travel is graphically represented according to instrument panel image data selected by the driver's selection operation among a plurality of instrument panel image data stored in advance. The instrument panel image expressed in (1) can be displayed on the display monitor. Therefore, it is possible to provide the driver with a design that does not get bored relatively. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-297318

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, a selection operation by the driver is required, and the instrument panel image to be displayed is an image prepared in advance, so that it depends on the state of the vehicle and the driving environment. Necessary information cannot be displayed dynamically.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an in-vehicle instrument panel image display device that does not require a selection operation by a driver and displays necessary information according to a vehicle state and a driving environment. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to the present invention includes a navigation main body that performs navigation based on vehicle information acquired from the outside, an image display unit that displays an instrument panel image of the vehicle, and the navigation. An image display control unit that is connected to the main body unit via a communication line and switches a display form of an instrument panel image displayed on the image display unit based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body unit via the communication line. I have it.

  According to the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display device of the present invention, the selection operation by the driver is unnecessary, and necessary information can be displayed according to the state of the vehicle and the traveling environment.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) to which the in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus is connected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a navigation main body unit 1, an image display unit 2, and an image display control unit 3.
The navigation main body 1 has a function of performing navigation based on vehicle information acquired from the outside. In addition to the map DB 10 in which map information is stored, the navigation main body 1 includes sensors such as an ETC (Electric Toll Collection) vehicle-mounted device 11, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 12, a vehicle speed sensor 13, and a direction sensor 14. It is connected. The navigation main body 1 reads map information from the map DB 10 and inputs ETC information 101, current location information 102, vehicle speed information 103 inputted from the outside (sensors 11, 12, 13, 14 mounted on each part of the vehicle). Based on the vehicle information such as the direction information 104, navigation processing such as present location display, destination setting, destination guidance, guidance and the like is performed. The navigation main body 1 further transmits the vehicle information described above to the image display control unit 3 that is LAN-connected via the communication line 4 of the vehicle LAN.

The image display unit 2 displays a vehicle instrument panel image on the screen under the control of the image display control unit 3. For example, the image display unit 2 includes a large number of pixels (a combination of light emitting elements of a plurality of colors) arranged vertically and horizontally. It is a display monitor configured by using liquid crystal (Liquid Crystal Display Device) or organic EL (Electro-Luminescence).
The image display control unit 3 is connected to the navigation main body 1 via a communication line 4 and displays on the image display unit 2 based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body 1 via the communication line 4. It has a function of switching the display form of the instrument panel image. Details of the internal configuration of the image display control unit 3 will be described later.

  In addition, an ECU (electronic control unit) 5 is connected to the communication line 4. For example, an ECU that performs engine control calculates optimal fuel adjustment, ignition timing, and the like based on information input from sensors installed at various locations related to engine control, further learns the situation, and based on the results, Perform engine control. Here, it is assumed that travel distance information 51, average fuel efficiency information 52, fuel information 53, and the like are further generated by calculation and learning, and transmitted to the image display control unit 3 via the communication line 4 as necessary.

The image display control unit 3 described above includes a main control unit (CPU) 30, a drawing processing unit 31, an image memory 32, and an image readout control unit 33.
The main controller 30 communicates with the navigation main body 1 via the communication line 4 and has a function of generating an instrument panel image based on vehicle information acquired by communication. The drawing processing unit 31 has a function of transferring an instrument panel image generated by the main control unit 30 to the image memory 32. The image readout control unit 33 has a function of reading out the instrument panel image transferred to the image memory 32 in synchronization with the display timing of the image display unit 2 and outputting it to the image display unit 2 for display. Here, the image memory 32 is added independently of the drawing processing unit 31, but may be built in the drawing processing unit 31.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image display unit 2 shown in FIG. Here, as the image display unit 2, a horizontally wide liquid crystal (LCD) is used.
Therefore, the image display unit 2 includes a liquid crystal panel 20 and a liquid crystal drive control unit 21.

The liquid crystal drive control unit 21 includes a data line drive circuit 211 that drives data lines mounted on the liquid crystal panel 20, a gate line drive circuit 212 that drives gate lines, a data line drive circuit 211, and a gate line drive circuit 212. A timing control circuit 213 that supplies a display timing signal, a voltage generation circuit 214 that generates a gradation voltage, and an overdrive arithmetic circuit 215 are configured.
Here, the overdrive arithmetic circuit 215 compares the image data of the current frame (currently being displayed) with the image data of the previous frame output from the image memory 32, and changes the gradation between the images. , And a corrected image corresponding to the gradation change is generated and output to the data line driving circuit 211.

  The image display control unit 3 includes an image memory 32 capable of storing image data for at least one frame. The main control unit 30 instructs the gradation voltage generation circuit 214 to set gradation voltages. In addition, an image display timing instruction to the timing control circuit 213 and image data for one frame are supplied to the overdrive arithmetic circuit 215.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and here, when traveling on a general road or traveling on a highway shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). An instrument panel image display example in which meters each having an optimal design are laid out is shown.
The operation of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the instrument panel image display examples of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Will be described in detail.

First, the navigation main body 1 receives a signal related to latitude and longitude by a GPS satellite from the GPS receiver 12, and acquires a signal related to the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 13 (step ST301), thereby determining the current position of the vehicle, In addition, the presence / absence of general road traveling is determined (step ST302).
Subsequently, the navigation main body 1 sends the information regarding the current position of the measured vehicle and the presence / absence of general road travel to the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) via the communication line 4. Forward.

  The image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) having received the transfer of information indicating that the vehicle is traveling on a general road (step ST302 “YES”) uses the speedometer shown in FIG. An instrument panel image laid out by a digital meter with a simple design is generated, the instrument panel image generated here is expanded in a work area (not shown) of a built-in memory, and a transfer process by the drawing processing unit 31 is started (step S1). ST303).

Subsequently, the drawing processing unit 31 draws the instrument panel image for one frame developed in the work area of the memory built in the main control unit 30 by transferring the instrument panel image to the image memory 32 at a high speed (step ST304). Then, the image reading control unit 33 waits for the display timing of the image display unit 2 (liquid crystal panel 20) to arrive (step ST305), sequentially reads the instrument panel images drawn in the image memory 32, and the liquid crystal drive control unit 21 (Step ST306).
In the liquid crystal drive control unit 21, a gradation voltage generation circuit 214, a timing control circuit 213, and an overdrive arithmetic circuit are provided under the gradation voltage setting instruction from the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) and the image display timing instruction. By controlling 215 and driving the data line driving circuit 211 and the gate line driving circuit 212, an instrument panel image shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 20 (step ST307).

In the general road traveling determination process in step ST302, it is assumed that the vehicle is traveling on a highway other than the general road, for example, ETC information (signal acquired from the ETC onboard device 11 by the navigation main body 1) in addition to the vehicle speed information. When the determination is made (step ST302 “NO”), the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30), for example, the rotation speed shown in FIG. 4B for the image display unit 2 (the liquid crystal panel 20 thereof). An instrument panel image laid out so as to display an analog meter mainly composed of a meter and a speedometer is generated, drawn in the image memory 32, and its display timing is controlled (step ST308).
Each of the above-described instrument panel image generation, drawing, and display control is realized by the same processing as steps ST303 to ST307 when traveling on a general road, and only the design of the instrument panel image generated in step ST303 is different.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) recognizes that the navigation main body unit 1 is traveling on a general road based on the current vehicle position information and the vehicle speed information. In this case, for example, by displaying an instrument panel image laid out with a simple design in which the speed display can be seen at a glance as shown in FIG. When recognizing that the vehicle is traveling on the road, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the driver switches to an instrument panel image laid out in an analog type design including a rotation speed meter. You can enjoy running in a sporty atmosphere.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are diagrams showing display forms of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In the second embodiment described below, as in the first embodiment, the configuration of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used, and the operation is also excluded except for the design of the generated instrument panel image. Assume that the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is followed.

  When the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) determines that the current travel location is a circuit place based on the current location information of the vehicle by the GPS receiver 12 from the navigation main unit 1 and the map information in the map DB 10, As an example of the instrument panel image is shown in FIG. 5 (a), a revolution meter and a speed meter in analog form, and meters necessary for the race such as a water temperature gauge, an oil temperature gauge, and a hydraulic pressure gauge are laid out. The generated image information is generated, and display switching to the image display unit 2 (the liquid crystal panel 20 thereof) is performed. As a result, the driver can enjoy a sporty run like a race.

  Further, the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) determines that the vehicle is in the tunnel from the navigation main body unit 1 based on the vehicle current location information by the GPS receiver 12, the information on the traveling direction by the direction sensor 14, and the map information in the map DB 10. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, an instrument panel image is generated in which the distance to the tunnel exit is mainly laid out as shown in FIG. 5B as an example of the instrument panel image. The image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) generates image information in a form in which the remaining distance information acquired from the navigation main body unit 1 can be displayed in a countdown manner, and the image display unit 2 (the liquid crystal panel 20 thereof). ), The driver can know in advance the distance to the tunnel exit.

In addition, the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) is acquiring the vehicle current location information by the GPS receiver 12 and the map information in the map DB 10 acquired from the navigation main unit 1, and the vehicle is currently traveling in the city center. If it is determined that there is, the example of the instrument panel image is shown in FIG. 5 (c), the average fuel consumption display and the ECO index display are highlighted, so that the driver can take into consideration the fuel consumption. Can be encouraged.
Here, it is assumed that the average fuel consumption information 52 necessary for the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) to display the average fuel consumption display is acquired from the ECU 5 via the communication line 4.

Further, the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) is currently traveling in the suburbs based on the vehicle current location information obtained from the GPS receiver 12 and the map information in the map DB 10 acquired from the navigation main body 1. If it is determined that the vehicle speed information obtained by the vehicle speed sensor 13 obtained from the navigation main body 1 exceeds the average daily speed calculated by the learning process, As shown in an example of the instrument panel image in FIG. 5 (d), the average speed is displayed and the excess speed is highlighted so that the driver can be alerted and the speed can be suppressed. .
In addition, the emphasis color display for the overspeed is displayed by the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) in a display area (hatching notation in the graph meter) corresponding to the overspeed acquired from the navigation main body 1. For example, it is realized by being highlighted in red.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display form of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In the third embodiment described below, as in the first and second embodiments, the configuration of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used, and the operation is excluded from the design of the generated instrument panel image. In accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

The image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) calculates the total travel distance of the vehicle based on the travel distance information 51 acquired from the ECU 5, and the tachometer red as shown in FIG. 6 shows an example of the instrument panel image. By changing the zone display, it is possible to prompt the driver to suppress excessive rotation during the running-in period of the new vehicle.
The red zone display of the tachometer is realized by the main control unit 30 storing, for example, a tachometer pattern by default and sequentially updating the red zone part according to the total travel distance of the vehicle.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display form of an in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
In the fourth embodiment described below, as in the first, second, and third embodiments, the configuration of the in-vehicle instrument panel image display device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used, and the generated instrument panel image is also designed for operation. Except for, the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is assumed.

The image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) calculates the remaining fuel amount based on the fuel information 53 acquired from the ECU 5, and determines that the remaining fuel amount is small as compared with a preset threshold remaining amount. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7 as an example of the instrument panel image, an instrument panel image mainly including the remaining travelable distance is generated and displayed.
In addition, by acquiring the distance information from the navigation main unit 1 to the nearest gas station and displaying it together with the remaining amount display, the driver can be encouraged to refuel without worrying about running out of gas. it can.

It is to be noted that, in common with the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the background color of the meter can be automatically updated according to the season during travel. For example, the color schemes are centered on green in spring, blue in summer, red in autumn, and white in winter, so drivers can enjoy different meter designs for each season.
The background color is changed by the navigation main body 1 determining the season using an internal clock, and the image display control unit (main control unit 30) generating information for changing the background color and controlling the image display unit 2. Realized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a display monitor whose instrument panel design is updated as necessary is used for the instrument panel of the vehicle, depending on the driving situation, season, location, and surrounding environment of the vehicle. By automatically switching the instrument panel design such as the foreground color, background color, shape and size of the meter laid out as an instrument panel image, necessary information can be displayed as necessary when necessary. Moreover, since the design is semi-fixed, there is little tiredness, and further, since no mechanically moving parts are used, the reliability is improved.

Note that the functions of the respective constituent blocks included in the in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatuses according to Embodiments 1 to 4 described above may be realized entirely by hardware, or at least a part thereof may be realized by software.
For example, the navigation main body unit 1 is connected via the communication line 4, and the display form of the instrument panel image displayed on the image display unit 2 is changed based on the vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body unit 1 via the communication line 4. Data processing in the image display control unit 3 (main control unit 30) may be realized on a computer by one or a plurality of programs, or at least a part thereof may be realized by hardware.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the vehicle-mounted LAN to which a vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus is connected. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image display part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen structure of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen structure of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen structure of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen structure of the vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation main-body part, 2 image display part, 3 image display control part, 10 map DB, 11 ETC on-board equipment, 12 GPS receiver, 13 vehicle speed sensor, 14 direction sensor, 20 liquid crystal panel, 21 liquid crystal drive control part, 30 main control Unit (CPU), 31 drawing processing unit, 32 image memory, 33 image readout control unit, 211 data drive circuit, 212 gate line drive circuit, 213 timing control circuit, 214 gradation voltage generation circuit, 215 overdrive operation circuit.

Claims (17)

A navigation main body that performs navigation based on vehicle information acquired from the outside;
An image display unit for displaying an instrument panel image of the vehicle on a screen;
Image display control that is connected to the navigation main body via a communication line and switches the display form of an instrument panel image displayed on the image display based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body via the communication line And
An in-vehicle instrument panel image display device comprising: The image display control unit
The vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display device according to claim 1, wherein a foreground color of a meter laid out as the instrument panel image is switched based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body via the communication line. The image display control unit
The background color of the meter laid out as the instrument panel image is switched based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body via the communication line, and displayed on the image display unit. In-vehicle instrument panel image display device. The image display control unit
The in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein a size of a meter laid out as the instrument panel image is switched based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body via the communication line and displayed on the image display unit. Instrument panel image display device. The image display control unit
The vehicle-mounted instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the number of meters laid out as the instrument panel image is switched based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body part via the communication line and displayed on the image display part. Image display device. The image display control unit
2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of a meter laid out as the instrument panel image is switched based on vehicle information acquired from the navigation main body via the communication line and displayed on the image display unit. Instrument panel image display device. The image display control unit
A main control unit that communicates with the navigation main body via the communication line and generates the instrument panel image based on vehicle information acquired by the communication;
A drawing processing unit for transferring an instrument panel image generated by the main control unit to an image memory;
An image readout control unit that reads out an instrument panel image transferred to the image memory in synchronization with a display timing of the image display unit and outputs the read out to the image display unit;
The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 1, wherein The main control unit
8. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an instrument panel image in which at least a speedometer is laid out on a screen is generated based on vehicle current location information and vehicle speed information acquired from the navigation main body. The main control unit
Based on the current vehicle location information and vehicle speed information or ETC (automatic toll collection system) information acquired from the navigation main body, generating an instrument panel image in which at least a rotation speed meter and a speed meter are laid out on the screen. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 7, characterized in that: One or more electronic control units are further connected to the communication line,
The main control unit
A speed meter that communicates with one of the electronic control units via the communication line to obtain vehicle mileage information and makes the red zone display variable according to the total mileage information accumulated by the mileage information. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 7, wherein the instrument panel image laid out on a screen is generated. The main control unit
When it is determined that the current location is a circuit field based on the current location information of the vehicle acquired from the navigation main body, a water temperature gauge, an oil temperature gauge, and a hydraulic gauge are displayed on the screen in addition to the rotation speed meter and the speed meter. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 7, wherein an instrument panel image laid out above is generated. The main control unit
When it is determined that the current location is traveling in the tunnel based on the current location information of the vehicle acquired from the navigation main body, an instrument panel image in which the distance to the tunnel exit is laid out on the screen is generated. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 7. The main control unit
13. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 12, wherein an instrument panel image for sequentially counting down the distance to the tunnel exit is generated based on the remaining distance information acquired from the navigation main body. One or more electronic control units are further connected to the communication line,
The main control unit
Based on the current location information of the vehicle acquired from the navigation main body, if it is determined that the vehicle is currently traveling in the city center, the average calculated based on the fuel ejection amount acquired from one of the electronic control units 8. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an instrument panel image laid out with enhanced fuel efficiency and ECO index is generated. The main control unit
Based on the current location information and vehicle speed information of the vehicle acquired from the navigation main body, when the vehicle is currently traveling in a suburb and exceeds the average travel speed learned by the navigation main body 8. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein if determined, an instrument panel image laid out on a screen with the average speed and the excess speed being emphasized is generated. One or more electronic control units are further connected to the communication line,
The main control unit
When the remaining amount of fuel acquired from one of the electronic control units reaches a predetermined value, the remaining travelable distance is calculated by calculation according to the average fuel consumption, and the nearest gas station acquired from the navigation main unit 8. The in-vehicle instrument panel image display device according to claim 7, wherein an instrument panel image in which the remaining travelable distance and the distance to the nearest gas station are laid out on a screen is generated based on the distance information. The main control unit
17. An instrument panel image including at least a speed meter laid out on a screen with a changed background color is generated based on seasonal information during traveling of the vehicle acquired from the navigation main body. The vehicle-mounted instrument panel image display apparatus of any one of these.

Images