JP4816101B2 - Vehicle information display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display device for a vehicle that integrates operations and information display related to a plurality of in-vehicle devices.

  In recent years, vehicles such as automobiles have been equipped with a large number of in-vehicle devices such as air conditioners and audio. In a vehicle equipped with a large number of in-vehicle devices, when a dedicated operation switch and display are provided for each in-vehicle device, a large number of operation switches and displays are arranged in a limited space in the vehicle interior. As a result, the switch operation becomes complicated, and the amount of line-of-sight movement during the operation increases, so that the operability of the in-vehicle device deteriorates.

In order to improve such a problem, it is only necessary to integrate the operation systems of the respective in-vehicle devices. As a device configured as such, for example, a vehicle information display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known. is there. The vehicle information display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a centralized display (projection display device) that centrally displays operation items related to a plurality of in-vehicle devices, and an operation for selecting an operation item displayed on the centralized display. An operation unit (central operation switch) for performing the same operation so that each on-vehicle device performs a predetermined operation in response to an operation item on the central display being operated by the operation unit. It is configured.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-257231

  By the way, there is a case where it is desired to perform an ON / OFF switching operation of at least one of the plurality of in-vehicle devices by the vehicle information display device disclosed in Patent Document 1. In such a case, the operation of the at least one in-vehicle device is turned off in response to a predetermined operation by the operation unit, and an OFF display indicating that the in-vehicle device is in an OFF state on the centralized display. Should be turned on. However, in such a case, if the OFF display is always lit, the display related to the in-vehicle device that is not used after being turned off continues to be lit, thereby causing a problem of visual inconvenience. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when the in-vehicle device is turned off, by appropriately controlling the display on the centralized display corresponding thereto, the operability is more excellent. Another object is to provide a vehicle information display device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is an information display device for a vehicle that integrates operation and information display related to a plurality of in-vehicle devices, and includes a plurality of settings set separately for each of the in-vehicle devices. A centralized display having a display area on a single screen and displaying predetermined operation items for each of the above-mentioned in-vehicle devices in the plurality of display areas, and any operation item in the plurality of display areas on the centralized display An operation means for selecting the operation item and an operation for changing the display contents of the selected operation item, and an operation means for causing each of the in-vehicle devices to perform a desired operation in response to these operations. The means is configured to be able to perform an operation of switching ON / OFF of at least one of the plurality of in-vehicle devices, and the centralized display. When the at least one in-vehicle device is turned off by the operation means, an OFF display indicating that the in-vehicle device is in an OFF state is lit in a display area corresponding to the in-vehicle device that has been turned off. Thereafter, the display is turned off, and when the operation item is selected by the operation means while the OFF display is turned off, the OFF display is turned on again. Claim 1).

  The “OFF display indicating that the in-vehicle device is in the OFF state” here is not particularly limited as long as the display can understand that the in-vehicle device is in the OFF state. For example, in addition to character display such as “OFF” and “OFF”, various displays such as symbol display such as “−−” (horizontal bar) are included.

  According to the present invention, operation items related to a plurality of in-vehicle devices are displayed in a plurality of display areas set on a centralized display, respectively, and desired operation is performed on each of the in-vehicle devices by selecting and operating the operation items with an operation means. When at least one of the plurality of vehicle-mounted devices is turned off by the operation means, the vehicle-mounted device is turned off in the display area corresponding to the vehicle device that has been turned off. Since the OFF display indicating the state is once lit and then turned off, the OFF display, that is, the visual annoyance caused by the fact that the operation items related to the in-vehicle devices that are not being used continue to be lit. Can be eliminated. In addition, when the operation item selection operation by the operation means is performed while the OFF display is turned off, the OFF display is turned on again. The passenger can be recognized as an operational clue when the vehicle-mounted device is turned ON again, and the operability during the operation can be improved. As a result, it is possible to achieve both the elimination of visual inconvenience caused by the fact that the OFF display continues to be lit and the securing of operability when the vehicle-mounted device that has been turned OFF once is turned ON again. The operability of the information display device can be improved effectively.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the OFF display that has been turned off is re-lighted when an operation item related to the vehicle-mounted device that has been turned OFF is selected by the operation means.

  In this way, when the OFF display is turned on again only when an operation item related to an in-vehicle device that has been turned off is selected, the occupant attempts to turn on the in-vehicle device that has been once turned off again. There is an advantage that the OFF display can be appropriately lit again in accordance with the selection of the operation item to be performed.

  In this case, a cursor that moves according to the operation of the operation means is displayed on the centralized display, and the operation item is designated and selected by the moving cursor, and the ON / OFF operation is performed. It is preferable to set the default position of the cursor at a position adjacent to the display area corresponding to the in-vehicle device.

  As described above, when the default position of the cursor for specifying and selecting the operation item on the centralized display is set to a position adjacent to the display area corresponding to the on-vehicle device to be operated ON / OFF, There is an advantage that it is possible to improve the operability when the vehicle-mounted device once turned off is turned on again. That is, if the default position of the cursor is set to the above position, the cursor is moved from the default position to the display area corresponding to the in-vehicle device that has been turned off in one operation (that is, the cursor is turned off). Operation items related to the in-vehicle device can be selected), so that the OFF display can be quickly lit again in the display area. It becomes possible to perform the ON operation again.

  When the in-vehicle device that is turned ON / OFF by the operation means is audio, an audio source as an operation item is displayed in the display area on the centralized display corresponding to the audio, and the operation item related to the audio source is displayed. It is preferable that the display content is configured to be switched to the OFF display according to the operation of the operation means (claim 4).

  In this way, the audio ON / OFF operation can be easily performed in accordance with whether or not there is a request for using the audio. In addition, the audio source as the operation item is displayed in the display area on the centralized display corresponding to the audio, and the display content of the operation item related to the audio source is switched to the OFF display according to the operation of the operation means. Therefore, the operation for switching ON / OFF of the audio operation can be performed as part of the operation for switching the audio source, which is the highest-level operation item for audio. As a result, it is possible to naturally perform the audio ON / OFF operation, and it is possible to realize a vehicle information display device with more excellent operability.

  Further, in this configuration, it is preferable that the operation of the audio is actually turned off when an operation item related to the audio source is maintained in the OFF display state for a predetermined time. 5).

  As described above, when the operation item related to the audio source is switched to the OFF display and after waiting for a predetermined time to elapse, the audio source is actually turned off. In the process of switching, it is possible to prevent frequent occurrences of audio operating power off or restarting against the passenger's will, and to prevent the passenger from feeling uncomfortable due to such a situation be able to.

  Preferably, the operating means is provided on a steering wheel.

  This makes it possible for the driver to operate the operation means without taking his hand off the steering wheel, so that the operability when operating the vehicle information display device while driving can be improved. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an in-vehicle device is turned off, by appropriately controlling the display on the centralized display corresponding to the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle information display device with better operability is provided. Can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a situation inside a vehicle compartment of a vehicle on which a vehicle information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle information display device. The vehicle information display device 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a screen installed near the upper center of the instrument panel 10, and operation items relating to a plurality of in-vehicle devices such as the air conditioner 5 and the audio 6 are concentrated. Centralized display 12, an operation unit 16 installed on the steering wheel 20 as an operation means for selecting an operation item on the centralized display 12, and the centralized display according to the operation of the operation unit 16 And a control unit 14 (for example, a control device including a CPU, a memory, various interfaces, etc.) for performing display control of 12 and operation control of the various vehicle-mounted devices. In addition, in FIG. 1, the screen with the code | symbol 22 installed below the said concentration display 12 is a display for car navigation apparatuses. Further, an instrument panel side operation unit 24 composed of a switch, a dial, and the like is provided below the car navigation display 22, and an in-vehicle device such as the air conditioner 5 is operated by operating the instrument panel side operation unit 24. Can be operated.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the centralized display 12. As shown in the figure, the centralized display 12 is provided with three display areas A to C divided for each on-vehicle device. The display areas A to C include predetermined display areas for each on-vehicle device. Operation items a1,..., B1,. Specifically, the operation items a1 to a4 related to the air conditioner 5 provide operation information such as average fuel consumption and average speed to the left display area A, and the operation items b1 to b3 related to the audio 6 provide the central display area B. An operation item c relating to the DIS 7 (driver information system) is displayed in the display area C on the right end.

  The operation unit 16 includes various switches as shown in FIG. 4 (161 to 165; details will be described later), and any operation item from the operation items a1,..., B1,. And an operation for changing the display content of the selected operation item. And according to these operation, it is comprised so that each vehicle equipment, such as the said air conditioning apparatus 5, may perform predetermined | prescribed operation | movement.

  Returning to FIG. 3 again, the operation items a1 to a4 related to the air conditioner 5 displayed in the display area A on the central display 12 include, in this order, the passenger side air conditioning temperature, the air volume, the outlet pattern, and the driver's seat. Each side air-conditioning temperature is displayed, and these display contents are changed in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16, and an operation according to the changed display contents is executed in the air conditioner 5. It has become.

  Among the operation items b1 to b3 related to the audio 6 displayed in the display area B, the leftmost operation item b1 displays the audio source, and the display content thereof is displayed according to the operation of the operation unit 16. For example, the current “FM” (radio) is switched to “AM” (radio), “CD” or the like, and the operation of starting the audio source after the change is executed in the audio 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation item b1 related to the audio source is displayed as “OFF” indicating that the operation of the audio 6 is in an OFF state according to the operation of the operation unit 16. Switching is made (see FIG. 7C). Then, in response to the operation item b1 being switched to “OFF” in this way, the operation of the audio 6 is actually switched to the OFF state. That is, for the audio 6, a predetermined audio source is activated (ON) or its operation is turned OFF in response to the display of the operation item b 1 applied to the audio source on the centralized display 12 being switched by the operation unit 16. It has come to be. On the other hand, the display contents of the other operation items b2 and b3 related to the audio 6 differ depending on the type of the audio source. For example, when the audio source is “FM” as shown in FIG. The number of channels and the frequency are displayed in the operation item b3. However, the display of these operation items b2 and b3 is turned off when the audio source is “OFF” as shown in FIG. 7C. When the display of the operation items b2 and b3 is turned off in this way, only the leftmost operation item b1 applied to the audio source can be selected in the display area B.

  In the operation item c related to the DIS 7 displayed in the display area C, one of operation information such as average fuel consumption and average speed is displayed, and is displayed according to the operation of the operation unit 16. The content is switched from, for example, the current average speed to other information such as average fuel consumption and outside temperature.

  A cursor 30 for designating and selecting an arbitrary operation item from the plurality of operation items a1,..., B1,. As shown in FIG. 3, the cursor 30 is normally located at the default position α set at the boundary between the display areas A and B. However, as shown in FIGS. It is configured to move to the left and right according to the operation of the unit 16 and to reach below any of the operation items a1,..., B1,.

  Although the cursor 30 is always lit and displayed when the cursor 30 is located at the default position α, the cursor 30 moves from the default position α and designates one of the operation items a1,..., B1,. In the display, it blinks (it repeats turning on and off). This is to make the driver easily understand which operation item is currently selected by making the display of the cursor 30 conspicuous. The blinking cycle of the cursor 30 is accelerated as the vehicle speed increases. This is because if the blinking cycle of the cursor 30 is made constant regardless of the vehicle speed, the driver is more likely to miss the display of the cursor 30 especially during high-speed driving. That is, if the blinking cycle of the cursor 30 is made constant regardless of the vehicle speed, the time for the driver to move his / her line of sight to the centralized display 12 has to be very short. The movement timing of the cursor 30 may overlap with the turn-off time of the cursor 30, and if such a situation occurs, the driver cannot recognize the display of the cursor 30, whereas the blinking cycle of the cursor 30 as described above If the vehicle speed is increased in accordance with the increase in vehicle speed, such a situation can be effectively avoided and the display of the cursor 30 can be reliably recognized by the driver. The cursor 30 has a shape when it is placed at the default position α and when it is moved from the default position α and any one of the operation items a1,..., B1,. On the other hand, in the state moved from the default position α, the width dimension changes according to the size of the designated operation item.

  As described above, the cursor 30 that has moved from the default position α to any one of the operation items a1,..., B1,..., C has passed a predetermined time even if the operation unit 16 is not operated thereafter. By doing so, it automatically returns to the default position α. That is, the cursor 30 automatically returns to the default position α when the operation unit 16 is not operated for a predetermined time while an arbitrary operation item is designated by the cursor 30. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the cursor 30 is placed at the default position α, that is, when any operation item in the display areas A to C is not selected, on the centralized display 12, Operation items a1,..., B1,..., C in all display areas A to C are displayed. In this specification, this state is referred to as “normal mode” of the centralized display 12.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the cursor 30 moves from the default position α in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16, thereby causing any display area among the display areas A to C to be displayed. When the operation item in the display area is selected, the operation item in the specific display area including at least the selected display area is left on the centralized display 12, and the operation items in the other display areas are displayed. Is turned off. In this specification, this state is referred to as a “specific mode” of the centralized display 12. Specifically, in this specific mode, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), FIG. 6 (b), etc., the operation in the display area located in the direction opposite to the selection direction at the time of selection is selected from the selected display area. The item display is turned off. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, if the cursor 30 moves to the left from the default position α and an operation item in the display area A is selected, the selected display area A is more selected than the selected display area A. The display of the operation items b1,..., C in the display areas B, C located in the right direction opposite to the selection direction (that is, the left direction as the moving direction of the cursor 30) is turned off. Thereby, only the operation item in the display area located in the same direction as the selection direction, that is, the operation item in the display area that can be the operation target is turned on, and the driver operates the operation item on the centralized display 12. Visual inconvenience when selecting and operating a1,..., b1,.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the centralized display 12, the audio 6 is turned off by the operation unit 16, and the display content of the operation item b 1 in the display area B corresponding to the audio 6 is switched to “OFF”. When this is done (FIG. 7C), the “OFF” display is turned off after waiting for a predetermined time from that point (FIG. 7D). As a result, the operation items related to the audio 6 that is not used after being turned OFF are turned off, and the driver's visual inconvenience is further reduced.

  However, from this state, the cursor 30 is temporarily moved to the outside of the display area B (display area A or C, or the default position α) in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16, and then returned to the display area B. When the operation item b1 in the display area B corresponding to the audio 6 is reselected, the centralized display 12 is configured to relight the “OFF” display once turned off (FIG. 7 (e)). )). Thereby, when the driver tries to turn ON the audio 6 again (when the display content of the operation item b1 applied to the audio source is changed to a source such as “FM”), the driver is turned on again. The operation can be easily performed while recognizing the “OFF” display. However, the re-lighted “OFF” display is turned off again when there is no operation by the operation unit 16 for a predetermined time thereafter.

  Next, details of the operation unit 16 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 16 includes an up / down switch 162 installed at the center of the upper stage, a left switch 161 and a right switch 163 installed at the left and right of the upper / lower switch 162, and a left side of the lower stage. "NAVI" switch 164 and "return" switch 165 installed on the right side thereof. Of these, the “NAVI” switch 164 and the “return” switch 165 are switches used when the car navigation apparatus is used, and are not particularly relevant to the gist of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. The left / right switches 161 and 163 and the up / down switch 162 will be described below.

  The left switch 161 and the right switch 163 are push-button switches that give instructions to move the cursor 30 on the centralized display 12 in the left-right direction. The left switch 161 and the right switch 163 move according to the operation of the left / right switches 161 and 163. An arbitrary operation item can be designated and selected from the plurality of operation items a1,..., B1,. Specifically, when the left (right) switch 161 (163) is pressed, the operation signal is input to the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 that has received the operation signal receives the operation signal from the control unit 14. A control signal for moving the display of the cursor 30 leftward (rightward) is output.

  The up / down switch 162 is a toggle switch having a lever portion 162a that can be operated in the vertical direction, and the display content of the operation item selected in advance is changed in accordance with the operation of the lever portion 162a in the vertical direction. In addition, the corresponding in-vehicle device is configured to execute an operation corresponding to the display content after the change. Specifically, for example, when the up / down switch 162 is operated up and down in a state where the operation item a4 related to the driver's seat side air conditioning temperature is designated in advance by the cursor 30, the operation signal is input to the control unit 14. Accordingly, the control unit 14 outputs a control signal for changing the display content of the operation item a4 (setting value of the driver's seat side air conditioning temperature) to the centralized display 12, and the air conditioning actually blown to the driver's seat side. A control signal for changing the temperature of the air is output to the air conditioner 5.

  Further, the lever portion 162a of the up / down switch 162 is configured to be able to perform not only an up / down operation but also a pressing operation, and the cursor 30 on the concentrated display 12 is moved according to the pressing operation of the lever portion 162a. It is configured to return to the default position α. That is, even if the cursor 30 designates an operation item separated from the default position α, the cursor 30 can be instantaneously returned to the default position α by pressing the up / down switch 162 once. Can do. Of course, the operation of returning the cursor 30 to the default position α can also be performed by pressing the left switch 161 or the right switch 163 as many times as necessary.

  Next, based on FIGS. 5-7, the procedure which operates each vehicle equipment using the vehicle information display apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, a procedure for operating the air conditioner 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the setting value of the driver's seat side air conditioning temperature, that is, the display content of the operation item a4 displayed in the display area A is changed from the current “21.0” ° C. A case where an operation of changing to “23.0” ° C. is illustrated.

  FIG. 5A shows a state before the operation, and it is assumed that the centralized display 12 is in the normal mode at this time. From this state, the driver presses the left switch 161 of the operation unit 16 once to move the cursor 30 to the left from the default position α as shown in FIG. To the operation item a4.

  Then, as the cursor 30 moves to the left from the default position α and the operation item in the display area A is selected in this way, the centralized display 12 shifts to the specific mode, and the selected display area A is selected. In addition, the display of the operation items b1,..., C in the display areas B, C located in the right direction opposite to the selection direction at the time of selection (that is, the left direction as the moving direction of the cursor 30) is turned off. Thereby, only the display of the operation items a1 to a4 in the display area A is left as the operation items in the display area that can be operated.

  Next, the driver operates the up / down switch 162 (the lever portion 162a) of the operation unit 16 in the upward direction as many times as necessary to set the driver seat side air conditioning temperature as shown in FIG. 5C. (Display content of operation item a4) is changed from the current “21.0” ° C. to “23.0” ° C. For example, when the set value changes by 0.5 ° C. every time the lever portion 162a of the up / down switch 162 is operated once, if the lever portion 162a is operated four times upward, as described above. The set value can be changed from “21.0” ° C. to “23.0” ° C. Then, a control signal is output from the control unit 14 to the air conditioner 5 in accordance with the operation, and the temperature of the conditioned air actually blown to the driver's seat corresponds to the changed set temperature (23.0 ° C.). Will be changed to a value.

  Then, the driver presses the lever portion 162a of the up / down switch 162 once to return the cursor 30 to the default position α as shown in FIG. It returns to the normal mode in which the operation items in all the display areas A to C are displayed. The cursor 30 can be returned to the default position α by pressing the right switch 163 of the operation unit 16. Alternatively, the cursor 30 can be automatically returned to the default position α by not operating the operation unit 16 for a predetermined time.

  Next, a procedure for operating the DIS 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, in FIGS. 6A to 6D, information provided from the DIS 7, that is, an operation of switching the display content of the operation item c displayed in the display area C from the current average speed to the average fuel consumption is performed. An example will be described for the case of performing.

  FIG. 6A shows a state before the operation, and it is assumed that the centralized display 12 is in the normal mode at this time. From this state, the driver presses the right switch 163 of the operation unit 16 as many times as necessary to move the cursor 30 from the default position α to the adjacent display area B as shown in FIGS. After the movement, the cursor 30 is moved to the next display area C and the cursor 30 is set to the operation item c in the display area C.

  FIG. 6B shows a state when the cursor 30 moves to the display area B as a stage in the middle until the cursor 30 reaches the display area C. As shown in FIG. 6B, as the cursor 30 moves to the right from the default position α and the operation item in the display area B is selected, the centralized display 12 shifts to the specific mode, The display of the operation items a1 to a4 in the display area A located in the left direction opposite to the selection direction (that is, the right direction that is the movement direction of the cursor 30) of the selected display area B is extinguished. The As a result, only the display of the operation items b1,..., C in the display areas B and C is left as the operation items in the display area that can be operated.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the cursor 30 moves further rightward from the display area B and an operation item in the adjacent display area C is selected by the cursor 30, the concentrated display 12, the operation items a1,... In the display areas A and B located in the left direction opposite to the selection direction at the time of selection (that is, the right direction that is the movement direction of the cursor 30) from the selected display area C. .., b1 .. display is turned off. Thereby, only the display of the operation item c in the display area C is left as an operation item in the display area that can be an operation target.

  Next, the driver operates the up / down switch 162 of the operation unit 16 up and down as many times as necessary to display the information (display contents of the operation item c) provided from the DIS 7 as shown in FIG. Change from average speed to average fuel consumption. That is, a control signal is output from the control unit 14 to the DIS 7 in response to the operation of the up / down switch 162, and the average fuel consumption measurement data is output to the DIS 7 instead of the average speed measurement data. The centralized display 12 performs the display.

  After that, if there is no need to operate other in-vehicle devices, the cursor 30 is returned to the default position α by pressing the lever portion 162a of the up / down switch 162 once, so that the centralized display 12 is normally operated. Return to the mode. However, here, a procedure for operating the audio 6 following the operation of the DIS 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, in FIGS. 7A to 7E, the operation of switching the operation of the audio 6 to the OFF state, that is, the display content (audio source) of the operation item b1 displayed in the display area B is the current “ An example of performing an operation of switching from “FM” (radio) to “OFF” will be described.

  FIG. 7A shows the same state as that of FIG. 6D, that is, the state immediately after the information provided from the DIS 7 (the display content of the operation item c) is changed. From this state, the driver presses the left switch 161 of the operation unit 16 three times to move the cursor 30 to the left from the display area C as shown in FIG. To the operation item b1.

  Then, as the cursor 30 moves to the left from the display area C and the operation item in the adjacent display area B is selected by the cursor 30, the selected display is displayed on the centralized display 12. The display of the operation item c in the display area C located in the right direction opposite to the selection direction (that is, the left direction that is the moving direction of the cursor 30) from the area B is turned off. As a result, only the operation items a1,..., B1,... In the display areas A and B are left as operation items in the display area that can be operated.

  Next, the driver operates the up / down switch 162 of the operation unit 16 in the upward direction as many times as necessary to change the audio source (the display content of the operation item b1) as shown in FIG. Switch from “FM” (radio) to “OFF”. Then, a control signal for cutting off the operating power supply of the audio 6 is output from the control unit 14 in accordance with the operation, and the operation of the audio 6 is switched to the OFF state accordingly. Accordingly, on the centralized display 12, “OFF” is turned on for the operation item b1, and the display of the other operation items b2 and b3 is turned off.

  Then, the driver presses the lever portion 162a of the up / down switch 162 to return the cursor 30 to the default position α as shown in FIG. 7D, thereby bringing the centralized display 12 into the normal mode. Return. However, since the “OFF” display displayed in the display area B corresponding to the audio 6 is turned off when a predetermined time elapses as described above, the display shown in FIG. In the normal mode shown, the display of the operation items b1 to b3 in the display area B is all turned off, and only the operation items in the other display areas A and C are turned on.

  7E, the cursor 30 that has returned to the default position α in FIG. 7D moves to the right again according to the operation of the operation unit 16, and the operation item b1 related to the audio source is re-displayed. The selected state is shown. As described above, when the operation item b1 related to the audio 6 is reselected, the “OFF” display in the display area B which has been once turned off is relighted as described above. The re-lighted “OFF” display is turned off again when there is no operation by the operation unit 16 for a predetermined time thereafter. Also, before and after this, the cursor 30 returns to the default position α, and the centralized display 12 returns to the state of FIG. 7D again.

  Next, the contents of display control executed on the centralized display 12 when the audio 6 is turned off will be described.

  8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the display control of the centralized display 12. When the display control starts, first, it is determined whether or not the audio 6 is turned off (step S11). Specifically, in a state where the operation item b1 (audio source) in the display area B corresponding to the audio 6 is selected, the up / down switch 162 of the operation unit 16 sets the display content of the operation item b1 to “OFF”. It is determined that the audio 6 has been turned off when the up / down operation is performed as many times as possible.

  When YES is determined in step S11 and the operation of turning off the audio 6 is confirmed, the count value Tm1 of the timer is reset (step S13), and “OFF” is lit on the operation item b1 related to the audio source. The control to be performed is executed (step S15). It should be noted that the display of the other operation items b2 and b3 in the display area B is turned off as “OFF” is turned on in the operation item b1 in this way.

  Next, whether or not there is an audio source switching operation, that is, an operation for switching the display content of the operation item b1 in the display area B from the “OFF” display to another display such as “FM” or “CD”. It is determined whether or not (step S17), and whether or not the count value Tm1 of the timer has reached a predetermined time T (for example, 6 seconds) set in advance (step S19). If NO is determined in step S17 and YES is determined in step S19, that is, the predetermined time T has elapsed with the audio source being switched to “OFF” (without switching the audio source). Is confirmed, the control to turn off the “OFF” display of the operation item b1 is executed (step S21).

  On the other hand, if YES is determined in step S17, that is, it is confirmed that the audio source switching operation has been performed before the predetermined time T has elapsed from the time when the audio source is switched to “OFF”. In such a case, control for lighting the display content corresponding to the audio source after switching in the display area B is executed (step S23). For example, when the audio source is switched to “FM”, “FM” is lit on the operation item b1 in the display area B, and the number of channels and the frequency are lit on the other operation items b2 and b3. Let

  Next, the control performed following step S21 will be described with reference to FIG. After the “OFF” display of the operation item b1 is turned off in step S21, in the next step 25, it is determined whether or not an audio source reselection operation has been performed. Specifically, when the cursor 30 once moves to the outside of the display area B in response to the operation of the operation unit 16, returns to the display area B again, and specifies the operation item b1 inside thereof, the audio source It is determined that there has been a reselection operation.

  When YES is determined in step S25 and the audio source reselection operation is confirmed, the timer count value Tm2 is reset (step S27), and the operation item b1 related to the audio source is set to “OFF” again. Control to turn on is executed (step S29).

  Next, similarly to steps S17 and S19, it is determined whether or not the audio source is switched and whether the timer count value Tm2 ≧ predetermined time T is satisfied (steps S31 and S33). If NO is determined in step S31 and YES is determined in step S33, that is, if it is confirmed that the predetermined time T has elapsed without the audio source switching operation being performed, “OFF” display of the operation item b1 is displayed. Control to turn off is executed (step S35).

  On the other hand, when YES is determined in step S31, it is confirmed that the audio source switching operation has been performed before the predetermined time T has elapsed since the audio source reselection operation was performed. In this case, as in step S23, control is performed to turn on the display content corresponding to the audio source after switching in the display area B (step S37).

  As described above, according to the above configuration, a plurality of operation items a1,..., B1,... C related to a plurality of in-vehicle devices (air conditioner 5, audio 6, DIS7) are set on the centralized display 12. In the vehicle information display device 1 that displays each in the display areas A to C and causes each of the in-vehicle devices to perform a desired operation by selecting and operating the operation items a1,..., B1,. When the audio 6 of the plurality of in-vehicle devices is turned off by the operation unit 16, the display area B corresponding to the turned-off audio 6 is once turned on, and then a predetermined time Since this is turned off when a period of time elapses, the “OFF” display, that is, the operation item related to the audio 6 that has been turned OFF and is not used is lit. It is possible to eliminate visual disturbance due to being continued. Moreover, when the operation item b1 related to the audio 6 is selected again while the “OFF” display is turned off, the “OFF” display is turned on again. The driver can be recognized as an operational clue when the audio 6 is turned on again, and the operability during the operation can be improved. As a result, it is possible to achieve both the elimination of visual inconvenience caused by the "OFF" display being kept on and the securing of operability when the audio 6 once turned off is turned on again. The operability of the vehicle information display device 1 can be effectively improved.

  In addition, as in the above embodiment, the default position α of the cursor 30 for specifying and selecting the operation items a1,..., B1,. 6 is set to a position adjacent to the display area B corresponding to 6 (in the above embodiment, the boundary between the display area B and the adjacent display area A), the audio 6 once turned OFF is turned ON again. There is an advantage that the operability can be improved. That is, if the default position α of the cursor 30 is set to the above position, the cursor 30 is moved from the default position α to the display area B corresponding to the audio 6 by one operation (that is, related to the audio 6). The operation item b1 can be selected), so that the “OFF” display can be quickly turned on again in the display area B. Therefore, the audio 6 can be easily turned on again while recognizing the “OFF” display. It becomes possible to operate.

  Further, as in the above-described embodiment, an audio source is displayed on the operation item b1 in the display area B corresponding to the audio 6, and the display content (audio source) of the operation item b1 according to the operation of the operation unit 16 Is switched to the “OFF” display, the operation for switching on / off the operation of the audio 6 is performed as part of the operation for switching the audio source, which is the highest-level operation item for the audio 6. There is an advantage that you can. As a result, it is possible to naturally perform the ON / OFF operation of the audio 6, and it is possible to realize the vehicle information display device 1 with more excellent operability.

  Further, when the operation unit 16 is provided on the steering wheel 20 as in the above-described embodiment, the driver can operate the operation unit 16 without releasing his / her hand from the steering wheel 20, so that the vehicle can be operated while driving. The operability when operating the information display device 1 can be improved.

  Furthermore, when an operation item in any display area among the display areas A to C is selected in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16, a specific display area including at least the selected display area is selected. According to the embodiment in which the display of the operation items in the other display area is turned off (the centralized display 12 is shifted to the specific mode), the driver The visual troublesomeness when selecting and operating the operation items a1,..., B1,. As a result, when the number of operation items a1,..., B1,... C displayed on the centralized display 12 is large, or when the driver operating the vehicle selects the operation items a1,. It is possible to easily and accurately operate the vehicle information display device 1 even when the operation is performed (that is, when the time for moving the line of sight to the centralized display 12 must be shortened). It becomes.

  In particular, as in the above-described embodiment, when an operation item in any display area among the display areas A to C is selected (when the concentrated display 12 shifts to a specific mode), the selected item is selected. When the display of the operation item in the display area located in the direction opposite to the selection direction at the time of selection (that is, the movement direction of the cursor 30) is turned off from the display area, the position is set in the same direction as the selection direction. Since only the operation items in the display area to be operated, that is, the operation items in the display area that can be operated, can be turned on, the operability of the vehicle information display device 1 can be improved more effectively.

  Here, in the above embodiment, after the display content (audio source) of the operation item b1 on the centralized display 12 is switched to “OFF” in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 16, the operating power supply of the audio 6 is actually operated. Although no particular description has been given of the time interval until the time expires, a certain amount of time (for example, about several seconds) may be set as the time interval. In this way, when the operation of the audio source 6 is actually turned off after waiting for a predetermined time to elapse while the operation item b1 applied to the audio source is switched to the “OFF” state, For example, when the audio source is temporarily turned off while switching the audio source in the order of “FM” → “AM” →... A situation where the vehicle is restarted can be prevented, and the driver can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the situation.

  In the above embodiment, the operation items related to the air conditioner 5, the audio 6, and the DIS 7 are displayed in the display areas A to C set on the central display 12, respectively. Etc.) may be displayed on the centralized display 12. Note that the number of display areas on the centralized display 12 should be appropriately set according to the number of in-vehicle devices to be operated.

  In the above embodiment, only the audio 6 among the plurality of in-vehicle devices including the air conditioner 5, the audio 6, and the DIS 7 is configured to be turned on / off by the operation unit 16. It is also possible to configure so that other in-vehicle devices such as can be turned ON / OFF similarly.

  In the above embodiment, when the audio 6 is turned off, “OFF” is displayed (lighted) in the operation item b1 in the display area B, and when the predetermined time has passed, the “OFF” display is displayed. Although the light is turned off, in addition to the control based on such time, for example, it is also possible to perform control such that the “OFF” display is turned off when the driver performs a predetermined operation. For example, after the display content of the operation item b1 in the display area B is switched to “OFF”, the driver operates the operation unit 16 and immediately moves the cursor 30 outside the display area B (display area A or C). Or the default position α), the “OFF” display may be turned off without waiting for the elapse of the predetermined time (simultaneously with the movement of the cursor 30). This also applies to turning off the “OFF” display redisplayed in response to the reselection of the operation item b1.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the audio 6 is turned off, “OFF” is turned on in the display area B, the light is turned off after the predetermined time has elapsed, and the “OFF” display once turned off is displayed as the audio. Although it is made to light up again when the operation item b1 concerning the source is selected, the relighting may be executed when an operation item related to another in-vehicle device (air conditioner 5, DIS7) is selected. . In this way, when the driver tries to perform some operation on each in-vehicle device, the “OFF” display can be turned on uniformly again. On the other hand, when the “OFF” display is turned on again only when the operation item b1 related to the audio 6 is reselected as in the above embodiment, the driver turns on the audio 6 again. There is an advantage that the “OFF” display can be appropriately lit again in accordance with the operation.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cursor 30 that moves according to the operation of the operation unit 16 is displayed on the central display 12, and the operation items a1,..., B1,. , C so that an arbitrary operation item can be specified and selected, but if the operation item can be selected, it is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the lighting color of the selected operation item is different from that of the other operation item. By changing the operation item, the operation item may be selected.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the said operation part 16 was provided in the steering 20, you may provide this in other places, such as the instrument panel 10. FIG.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the operation item in the arbitrary display area of the said display area AC is selected, the said concentration display 12 will be transferred to specific mode, and the said selected in this specific mode Although the display of the operation item in the display area located in the direction opposite to the selection direction at the time of selection (that is, the moving direction of the cursor 30) is turned off from the display area, the selected item is selected in the specific mode. It is sufficient to leave the display of operation items in a specific display area including at least the display area, and then turn off the display of operation items in other display areas. Whether to turn off the light can be changed as appropriate. For example, the display area located in the direction toward the default position α from the selected display area may be turned off, or the operation items in all other display areas other than the selected display area May be turned off.

  In the above embodiment, in the specific mode, the display of the operation items in the specific display area is left and the display of the operation items in the other display areas is completely turned off. It is not limited to such a configuration as long as the display of the operation item can be made inconspicuous from the others, for example, by making the display of the operation item darker so that it is less conspicuous than the other operation items. Also good.

It is a figure which shows the condition in the vehicle interior of the vehicle by which the vehicle information display apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a schematic block diagram of the said vehicle information display apparatus. It is an enlarged view of the concentration display of the said vehicle information display apparatus. It is an enlarged view of the operation part of the said vehicle information display apparatus. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows a mode that the display state of a concentration display changes in connection with operating an air conditioner using the said vehicle information display apparatus. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows a mode that the display state of the said concentration display changes in connection with operating DIS (driver information system) using the said vehicle information display apparatus. (A)-(e) is a figure which shows a mode that the display state of the said concentration display changes in connection with operating an audio using the said vehicle information display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the control operation of the centralized display when the audio is turned off. It is a flowchart which shows the latter half part of the control operation of the said concentrated display.

Explanation of symbols

1 Information display device for vehicles 5 Air conditioner (vehicle equipment)
6 Audio (vehicle equipment)
7 DIS (on-vehicle equipment)
12 Centralized display 16 Operation part (operation means)
20 Steering 30 Cursor A to C Display area a1 to a4, b1 to b3, c Operation item α Default position

Claims (6)

An information display device for a vehicle that performs integrated operation and information display on a plurality of in-vehicle devices,
A centralized display that has a plurality of display areas set separately for each in-vehicle device on a single screen and displays predetermined operation items for each in-vehicle device in the plurality of display regions,
An operation for selecting an arbitrary operation item from operation items in a plurality of display areas on the centralized display and an operation for changing the display content of the selected operation item are possible. Operating means for causing a desired operation to be performed,
The operation means is configured to be able to perform an operation of switching ON / OFF of the operation for at least one of the plurality of in-vehicle devices,
When the at least one in-vehicle device is turned off by the operation means, the centralized display displays an OFF display indicating that the in-vehicle device is in an OFF state in the display area corresponding to the off-operated in-vehicle device. A vehicle that is turned on and then turned off, and that the OFF display is turned on again when an operation item selection operation is performed by the operating means while the OFF display is turned off. Information display device. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1,
An information display device for a vehicle, characterized in that, when an operation item related to the in-vehicle device that has been turned off is selected by the operation means, the turned off OFF display is turned on again. The vehicle information display device according to claim 2,
A vehicle that moves in response to the operation of the operation means is displayed on the centralized display, and the operation items can be designated and selected by the moving cursor, and the vehicle-mounted device that is operated to be turned ON / OFF. An information display device for vehicles, wherein a default position of the cursor is set at a position adjacent to a display area corresponding to. The vehicle information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The vehicle-mounted device that is turned ON / OFF by the operation means is audio, and an audio source as an operation item is displayed in the display area on the centralized display corresponding to the audio, and the operation item related to the audio source is displayed. An information display device for a vehicle, characterized in that the content is switched to the OFF display according to the operation of the operation means. The vehicle information display device according to claim 4,
An information display device for a vehicle, characterized in that the operation of the audio is actually turned off when the state in which the operation item related to the audio source is in the OFF display state is maintained for a predetermined time. In the vehicle information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A vehicle information display device characterized in that the operating means is provided in a steering wheel.

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