JP5934485B2 - Meter display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a meter display device that displays a meter on a display panel.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a meter that performs graphic display using a TFT liquid crystal, such as a vehicle speedometer, is known. FIG. 10 is a view showing the appearance of a vehicle speed meter as a conventional meter display device. The vehicle speed meter 111 includes a TFT liquid crystal (TFT-LCD) 111a having a front glass 111c disposed on the front surface.

  On the screen of the TFT liquid crystal 111a, a speedometer 130 in which a pointer 136 is superimposed on a circular dial 131 is displayed. In this speedometer 130, a pointer 136 that indicates the speed of the vehicle is displayed so as to be rotatable about the center of the dial 131. In addition, an ODO / TRIP meter 138 representing a travel distance is displayed below the speedometer 130.

  Further, as a conventional meter display device, when displaying an icon that can accept an operation from a driver, it is known that the icon pattern is emphasized and displayed on a display in the meter (see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2004-243834 A

  However, the conventional meter display device has the following problems. Even if a part of the screen on which the icon is displayed is emphasized, the entire screen becomes complicated and the visibility is insufficient. In addition, since many icons are displayed to perform various settings, a large display space is required on the screen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to display a target icon without requiring a wide display space and to improve the visibility. An object of the present invention is to provide a meter display device that can perform the above.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the meter display device according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to ( 6 ).
(1) A meter display device that displays a vehicle speed meter on a display panel and is mounted on the vehicle ,
Area setting means for setting a screen area on the dial of the speed meter;
Icon display means for displaying a plurality of icons related to vehicle settings in the screen area;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of one of the plurality of icons;
Setting screen display means for replacing the setting screen related to the selected icon with the plurality of icons displayed in the screen area and displaying on the dial;
Be provided.
(2) A meter display device configured as described in (1) above,
On the dial, a pointer that can turn around its center, and an annular scale inscribed with a scale indicated by the pointer are displayed,
The area setting means sets the screen area at the center of the scale.
(3) A meter display device configured as described in (1) above,
The icon display means highlights the selected icon with respect to other icons.
(4) A meter display device having the configuration of (3) above,
The icon display means arranges the selected icon in the center of the screen area, and arranges the other icons on both sides of the selected icon.
Furthermore, the meter display device according to the present invention may be characterized by the following (5) and (6).
(5) A meter display device configured as described in (4) above,
The icon display means enlarges the selected icon and displays a line representing the selected icon darker than the other icons.
(6) A meter display device configured as described in (1) above,
Displaying the operation set on the setting screen on the dial.

According to the meter display device configured as described in (1) to ( 6 ) above, a screen area is set on the dial of the meter, an icon is displayed on the screen area, and selection of an icon displayed on the screen area is accepted. . This makes it possible to display a target icon without requiring a wide display space, and to improve the visibility.

  According to the meter display device of the present invention, a screen area is set on the dial of the meter, icons are displayed on the screen area, and selection of icons displayed on the screen area is accepted. This makes it possible to display a target icon without requiring a wide display space, and to improve the visibility.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital speedometer 1 that is a meter display device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an initial screen when the operation of the display panel 11 is set. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a plurality of icons 40 displayed in the setting screen area 35. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mission mode setting screen 71. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an auto cruise setting screen 72. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an inter-vehicle display setting screen 73. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation setting procedure of the meter. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of the display panel 11 that transitions according to the operation setting procedure of the meter. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an auto-cruise setting procedure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an appearance of a vehicle speed meter as a conventional meter display device.

  A meter display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The meter display device of this embodiment is applied to a digital speedometer that is mounted on a vehicle and performs graphic display. In addition, the meter in this invention shall point out the image information which can be visually recognized as a meter displayed and output by a meter display apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital speedometer 1 which is a meter display device in the embodiment. The digital speedometer 1 includes a display panel 11 that is a part of a meter panel mounted on a vehicle, a graphic controller 13, a CPU 15, and various I / O interfaces 17, 18, and 19 connected to the CPU 15.

  The display panel 11 includes a TFT liquid crystal (TFT-LCD) 11a that performs graphic display, and a surface glass 11c that is disposed on the front surface of the TFT liquid crystal 11a with a turn 11b interposed therebetween (see FIG. 2). The display panel 11 is driven by an X driver 21 that applies a voltage according to a horizontal synchronization signal and a Y driver 23 that applies a voltage according to a vertical synchronization signal.

  The graphic controller 13 has a frame memory 13 a in which various image data such as a speedometer described later is stored, and transmits the image data stored in the frame memory 13 a to the display panel 11. Further, the graphic controller 13 outputs a horizontal synchronization signal to the X driver 21 and outputs a vertical synchronization signal to the Y driver 23. Further, the graphic controller 13 causes the display panel 11 to display an image of the speedometer 30 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 15.

  An EEPROM 25 is externally attached to the CPU 15. The CPU 15 executes a meter display operation program, which will be described later, stored in the EEPROM 25, generates image data such as a speedometer displayed on the display panel 11, and transmits it to the graphic controller 13.

  An ignition switch (IGN) 52 connected to the plus (+) terminal of the battery 51 is connected to the I / O interface 17, and ON / OFF of the ignition switch 52 is input. Various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor 53 for detecting the speed of the vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance sensor 54 for measuring the distance from the preceding vehicle are connected to the I / O interface 18. As vehicle data, vehicle speed, engine speed, inter-vehicle distance Etc. are input. The I / O interface 19 is connected to an operation switch group 19c including a plurality of switches in addition to two operation switches 19a and 19b for switching an image in the meter, which will be described later.

  In addition, power is supplied to the CPU 15 from a CPU power source 27 connected to the battery 51. Similarly, power is supplied to the display panel 11 from the LCD power source 28 connected to the battery 51. The LCD power supply 28 applies a voltage to each electrode of the TFT liquid crystal 11a.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an initial screen when the operation of the display panel 11 is set. A speedometer 30 is displayed on the display panel 11. The speedometer 30 has a dial 31. The dial 31 includes an arc-shaped scale 32, a scale 33 carved inside the scale 32, a numerical value 34 indicating the value of each scale 33, a pointer 36 indicating the current speed, and an accumulated travel distance and travel distance. A representative ODO / TRIP meter 38 is arranged.

  In addition, a setting screen area 35 in which a plurality of icons 40 selected when setting various operations is set in the center of the dial 31. The setting screen area 35 is set by causing the graphic controller 13 to display an image registered in the frame memory 13a in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 15 (area setting means). Details of the image displayed in the setting screen area 35 will be described later.

  The pointer 36 can turn around the center of the dial 31 and indicates the speed of the vehicle. The scale 33 divides the speed every 20 km / h in the range of 0 km / h to 180 km / h. The ODO / TRIP meter 38 displays ODO (cumulative travel distance) and TRIP (travel distance) in two stages.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a plurality of icons 40 displayed in the setting screen area 35. In the present embodiment, a plurality of icons (three icons) are displayed in the setting screen area 35. Note that the number of icons is not limited to three, and an arbitrary number of icons may be displayed.

  In FIG. 3A, an icon 41 capable of setting a mission mode as a front screen, an icon 42 capable of setting auto cruise as a currently selected screen (current screen), and an icon 43 capable of setting an inter-vehicle distance as a rear screen. They are displayed side by side.

  At this time, the currently selected icon 42 is arranged in the center and is highlighted as compared with the icon 41 on the previous screen and the icon 43 on the rear screen arranged on both sides thereof. In this highlighting, the icon is enlarged and the line including the icon frame is darkly displayed as a solid line.

  For example, when the movement of the screen is operated by a short press of the operation switch 19a, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the current screen is an icon that can set the following distance in the direction of arrow a in the figure. 43 moves to the center of the screen. Then, a fan setting screen 44 is newly displayed as a rear screen.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mission mode setting screen 71. When the icon 41 is displayed as the current screen in the setting screen area 35, the mission mode setting screen 71 is displayed in the setting screen area as shown in FIG. 35.

  In a vehicle equipped with the digital speedometer 1 of the present embodiment, the transmission mode can be switched to an automatic (AT) mode or a manual (MT) mode.

  The mission mode setting screen 71 displays a graphic image 71a indicating transmission mode setting, an indicator 71b indicating AT mode, and an indicator 71c indicating MT mode.

  When the driver operates a changeover switch included in the operation switch group 19c, the transmission mode is switched. On the mission mode setting screen 71 shown in FIG. 4A, the indicator 71b indicating the AT mode is currently highlighted and the AT mode is selected. On the other hand, the indicator 71c indicating the MT mode is displayed in a broken line.

  When the transmission mode is selected and the mission mode setting screen 71 is completed, as shown in FIG. 4B, the transmission mode (here, “AT”) is displayed in a predetermined area 31 a of the dial 31 of the display panel 11. Is displayed. The transmission mode may be displayed not on the dial 31 of the display panel 11 but on another meter panel.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an auto cruise setting screen 72. The auto-cruise setting screen 72 is displayed as shown in FIG. 5A when the operation switch 19a is pressed for a long time when the icon 42 is displayed as the current screen in the setting screen area 35. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the auto cruise setting is performed using the entire dial 31 on which the speedometer 30 is displayed, without being limited to the setting screen area 35. When auto cruise is set on the auto cruise setting screen 72, an auto cruise mark 63 is displayed on the scale 32 of the speedometer 30, as shown in FIG.

  On the auto cruise setting screen 72, as shown in FIG. 5A, the speed position mark 62 is displayed inside the dial 31 along the scale 32. The driver moves the speed position mark 62 along the scale 32. A numerical value 64 representing the speed is displayed inside the speed position mark 62. Here, “52”, that is, 52 km / h is displayed.

  When a determination switch included in the operation switch group 19c is pressed, an auto cruise mark 63 is displayed at a position indicating the same speed as the speed indicated by the speed position mark 62 (see FIG. 5B). The auto cruise mark 63 is displayed outside the position where the speed position mark 62 is displayed with respect to the scale 32. At this time, the speed position mark 62 is displayed by a broken line indicating that the speed has been stopped.

  Further, when the operation switches 19a and 19b are simultaneously pressed and the setting of auto-cruise is completed, the speed position mark 62 is erased and only the auto-cruise mark 63 is displayed (see FIG. 5C).

  FIG. 6 shows the inter-vehicle display setting screen 73. As shown in FIG. 6A, the inter-vehicle display setting screen 73 is displayed on the setting screen area 35 when the operation switch 19a is pressed for a long time when the icon 43 is displayed as the current screen in the setting screen area 35. Is displayed.

  In the inter-vehicle display setting screen 73 shown in FIG. 6A, an indicator 73b indicating that the inter-vehicle display is set and an indicator 73c indicating that the inter-vehicle display is not set are displayed together with the graphic images 73a of the front and rear vehicles. Is displayed. The setting of the inter-vehicle display can be switched ON / OFF by operating a changeover switch included in the operation switch group 19c. Furthermore, the inter-vehicle distance to be aroused can be set according to the vehicle speed by means of numerical keys included in the operation switch group 19c.

  When the inter-vehicle setting is performed, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the inter-vehicle distance detected by the inter-vehicle distance sensor 54 reaches within the inter-vehicle distance set according to the vehicle speed, In the setting screen area 35, an image 73d representing the approach with the vehicle ahead is displayed. Further, in the setting screen area 35, an inter-vehicle distance (for example, 10 m) 73e is displayed in addition to the image 73d of the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle.

  The display operation of the digital speedometer 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation setting procedure of the meter. As described above, this operation program is stored in the EEPROM 25 and is periodically executed by the CPU 15. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of the display panel 11 that transitions according to the meter operation setting procedure. Prior to the start of this operation, as shown in FIG. 8A, the display panel 11 displays the same display as the conventional one (see FIG. 10).

  First, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the operation switch 19a is pressed for a long time and a long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is input via the I / O interface 19 (step S1). When the long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is not input, the CPU 15 ends this operation.

  On the other hand, when a long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is input, the CPU 15 acquires initial screen display data registered in the EEPROM 25, transmits it to the graphic controller 13, and displays it on the display panel 11 (step S2). In this initial screen, as shown in FIG. 8B, for example, icons 41, 42, and 43 shown in FIG. 3A are displayed in the setting screen area 35 provided in the center of the dial 31. The processing in step S2 corresponds to icon display means.

  The CPU 15 determines whether or not the operation switch 19a or 19b is operated for a short time and a short ON signal of the operation switch 19a or 19b is input via the I / O interface 19 (step S3). When the short ON signal of the operation switch 19a or 19b is not input, the CPU 15 proceeds to the process of step S5.

  On the other hand, when a short ON signal of the operation switch 19a or 19b is input, the CPU 15 acquires the moving screen display data registered in the EEPROM 25, transmits it to the graphic controller 13, and displays it on the display panel 11 (step S4). ). In this moving screen, as shown in FIG. 8C, a screen rotated in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 3B, for example, is displayed in the setting screen area 35 provided in the center of the dial 31. The process of YES in step S3 and step S4 corresponds to icon switching means.

  Here, when the operation switch 19a is pressed for a short time, the screen is switched in the direction of arrow a, and when the operation switch 19b is pressed for a short time, the screen is switched in the direction of arrow b. Then, the icon which was the rear screen or the previous screen is arranged at the center as the current screen and highlighted.

  The CPU 15 determines whether or not the operation switch 19a is pressed for a long time and a long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is input via the I / O interface 19 (step S5). The process in step S5 corresponds to a selection receiving unit. When the long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is not input, the CPU 15 proceeds to the process of step S7.

  On the other hand, when a long ON signal of the operation switch 19a is input, the CPU 15 acquires the next screen display data registered in the EEPROM 25, transmits it to the graphic controller 13, and displays it on the display panel 11 (step S6). As this next screen, as shown in FIG. 8D, a setting screen corresponding to the selected icon is displayed. That is, the image shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 5A, or FIG. 6A is displayed. The processing in step S6 corresponds to setting screen display means.

  When this setting screen is displayed, the CPU 15 sets specific contents according to another routine. Here, as an example, a case where auto-cruise setting is performed is shown.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an auto-cruise setting procedure. First, the CPU 15 refers to the EEPROM 25 and acquires information related to the position (initial display position) at which the speed position mark 62 serving as the target speed is displayed (step S31).

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the CPU 15 outputs the speed position mark 62 to the initial display position of the display panel 11 acquired in step S31 (step S32). At the same time, the CPU 15 outputs a numerical value 64 inside the speed position mark 62.

  The CPU 15 determines whether the plus switch and the minus switch included in the operation switch group 19c are pressed (step S33). As a result of the determination, if neither the plus switch nor the minus switch is pressed, that is, if a movement input requesting to move the speed position mark 62 on the scale 32 is not received, the CPU 15 proceeds to step S33. Return and repeat the same process.

  On the other hand, when the plus switch is pressed in step S33, the CPU 15 adds a predetermined amount of the speed to be indicated by the speed position mark 62, and outputs the speed position mark 62 to the position moved by this amount (step S34). . Further, the CPU 15 adds the speed displayed by the numerical value 64 by this amount, and causes the numerical value 64 to be output in the speed position mark 62 output to the moved position.

  On the other hand, if the minus switch is pressed in step S33, the CPU 15 subtracts the speed to be indicated by the speed position mark 62 by a predetermined amount in step S34, and outputs the speed position mark 62 to the position moved by this amount. Further, the CPU 15 subtracts the speed displayed by the numerical value 64 by this amount, and causes the numerical value 64 to be output in the speed position mark 62 output to the moved position.

  The CPU 15 determines whether the determination switch included in the operation switch group 19c is pressed (step S35). If the determination switch is not pressed as a result of the determination, the process returns to step S33 and the same processing is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the determination switch is pressed in step S35, the CPU 15 stops outputting the speed position mark 62 and the numerical value 64 as shown in FIG. Then, the CPU 15 outputs the auto cruise mark 63 to a position indicating the same speed as the speed position mark 62 indicates when the determination switch is pressed (step S36). The auto cruise mark 63 is output to the outside of the scale 32 from the position where the speed position mark 62 was output. Further, in step S36, the CPU 15 stores the position where the speed position mark 62 was output in the EEPROM 25 as the initial display position.

  And after the process of step S6 is performed, CPU15 discriminate | determines whether the operation switches 19a and 19b were pushed simultaneously by the driver | operator (step S7). If the operation switches 19a and 19b are not pressed simultaneously even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 15 returns to the process of step S5.

  On the other hand, when the operation switches 19a and 19b are simultaneously pressed, the CPU 15 ends the display of the setting screen shown in FIG. 8D (step S8), and ends this operation. When this setting operation is finished, the display panel 11 displays a speedometer 30 as shown in FIG. That is, the display shown in FIG. 4B, FIG. 5C, or FIG. 6B is performed.

  As described above, according to the meter display device of the present embodiment, it is possible to display the operation icon to be set without requiring a wide display space, and to improve the visibility. . Accordingly, various operations can be easily set.

  In addition, by setting the setting screen area at the center of the dial face, it is possible to effectively utilize a place that has not been used so far, although it is in a position where it can be easily viewed.

  Further, by highlighting the currently selected icon, visibility is improved even when a plurality of icons are displayed. That is, it becomes easy to understand by placing the currently selected icon in the center, and it becomes easier to see by enlarging the currently selected icon or making the line darker than other icons.

  In addition, since the currently selected icon is switched, the operability is improved. Moreover, since the meter which performs the operation | movement set on each setting screen is displayed, the operativity of a meter improves.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and any configuration that can achieve the functions of the configuration of the present embodiment is applicable.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the speedometer displayed on the display panel has a circular dial, but may have a dial of another shape such as an arbitrary polygon.

  In addition, the setting screen area is set at the center of the dial and in a position where it is easy to visually recognize but has not been used so far, but other places such as an ODO / TRIP meter are displayed. May be set instead. The setting screen area is not limited to a circle, and may be set in an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle or an ellipse.

  Further, the operation switch (SW) is an example, and the screen may be changed by another operation such as a touch operation with a touch panel provided on the screen.

  Further, the highlighted display of the currently selected screen may be performed by changing the color or shape in addition to enlargement, line width, and darkness.

  In the above-described embodiment, three selectable icons are displayed in the central area (center portion) of the dial, or the number is not limited to three and may be any number.

  Moreover, although the case where it applied to the digital speedometer as a speedometer was shown in the said embodiment, it is possible to apply not only to this but to various meters.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the TFT liquid crystal was used for the display panel, a plasma display, an organic EL display, LED, etc. may be used.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION When displaying a meter on a display panel, this invention can display the icon used as object, without requiring a large display space, Furthermore, the visibility can be improved and it is useful.

1 Digital Speedometer 11 Display Panel 13 Graphic Controller 13a Frame Memory 15 CPU
17, 18, 19 I / O interface 19a, 19b, 19c Operation switch (SW)
21 X driver 23 Y driver 25 EEPROM
27 CPU power supply 28 LCD power supply 30 Speedometer 31 Dial 32 Scale 33 Scale 35 Setting screen area 36 Pointer 38 ODO / TRIP meter 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 Icon 51 Battery 52 Ignition key (IG)
53 Vehicle speed sensor 54 Distance sensor 62 Speed position mark 63 Auto cruise mark 71 Mission mode setting screen 71a, 73a Graphic image 71b, 71c, 73b, 73c Indicator 72 Auto cruise setting screen 73 Inter-vehicle display setting screen

Claims (4)

A meter display device that displays a vehicle speed meter on a display panel and is mounted on the vehicle ,
Area setting means for setting a screen area on the dial of the speed meter;
Icon display means for displaying a plurality of icons related to vehicle settings in the screen area;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of one of the plurality of icons;
Setting screen display means for replacing the setting screen related to the selected icon with the plurality of icons displayed in the screen area and displaying on the dial;
A meter display device comprising: On the dial, a pointer that can turn around its center, and an annular scale inscribed with a scale indicated by the pointer are displayed,
The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein the area setting unit sets the screen area at a center of the scale.   The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein the icon display means highlights the selected icon with respect to other icons.   The meter display device according to claim 3, wherein the icon display unit arranges the selected icon in the center of the screen area and arranges the other icons on both sides of the selected icon.

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