JPS59204714A - Measuring device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance reliability with respect to the data of the remaining quantity of fuel, by operating the signals from sensors, which detect a running distance, a fuel consumption quantity, and a full tank and the signals from a fuel-quantity setting switch and a remaining fuel memory part by using a measuring and operating part. CONSTITUTION:When an SW3 is pushed, the quantity of fuel consumption is displayed on a display part 7. When the fuel is consumed, the quantity of consumed fuel is subtracted from the value of the quantity of remaining fuel stored in the remaining fuel memory region in an RAM 4. The fuel consumption rate is computed by dividing the running distance by the quantity of fuel consumption. When an SW1 is pushed and a fuel quantity setting switch SW5 is pushed once, the full tank quantity of a fuel tank, which is stored in an ROM 3 in advance, is loaded in the remaining fuel memory region of the RAM 4, and the stored value of the remaining fuel quantity is switched to the full tank quantity. When a fuel-addition correction mode is set and an SW5 is pushed by the time corresponding to the quantity of a fuel supply, this quantity is added to the stored value of the quantity of the remaining fuel. The result becomes approximately equal to the value of the actual quantity of the fuel in the fuel tank. For the increased quantity exceeding the fuel consumption quantity, the increase in memory value of the remaining fuel quantity is forbidden.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a novel measuring device for a vehicle, and in particular, it has high accuracy in determining the amount of remaining fuel, which is the data necessary to calculate the distance that can be traveled with remaining fuel. However, when refueling, the remaining fuel amount can be accurately corrected according to the replenishment amount, and even if an error occurs in the correction operation, the value stored as the remaining fuel amount will remain in the fuel tank. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle measuring device that prevents the tank from exceeding its full tank capacity.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY When driving a car, motorcycle, etc., it is important to always know not only the speed, but also the driving time, driving distance, and the so-called remaining driving distance, that is, the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel. are preferable, and it can be said that it is essential to accurately understand them, especially in a rally.

Therefore, there is a demand not only in Japan but also in other countries for cars, motorcycles, etc. to be equipped with measuring devices that calculate driving time, driving distance, remaining travel distance, etc. in addition to speed, and display the calculation results. There are also some products that meet this demand. These measuring devices have a built-in microcomputer that processes data from the internal timer, axle rotation speed sensor, remaining fuel amount sensor, etc. to calculate running time, mileage, etc.
Remaining fuel, fuel efficiency, remaining travel distance, etc. are determined and displayed on a display.

By the way, in such a measuring device, the detection accuracy of the remaining fuel amount sensor that detects the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is very low, and the measured value changes greatly due to vibrations while the vehicle is running.

Therefore, there is a problem that not only is there a large error in the displayed amount of remaining fuel, but also that the reliability of the remaining drivable distance obtained by multiplying it by the fuel consumption is extremely low.

Therefore, the following attempts were made by the inventors of the present application. That is, a full tank sensor that detects whether the fuel tank is almost full or not, and a fuel amount setting switch that changes the stored value of the remaining fuel amount are provided. If pressed while the full tank detection signal indicating that the tank is almost full is being output, the memory value of the remaining fuel amount will be changed to the full tank amount, and if pressed while the full tank detection signal is not being output. The attempt was made to provide a function to increase the stored value of the remaining amount of fuel by a predetermined amount, for example, 1 liter, each time it is pressed. In this way, when the fuel in the fuel tank becomes low and you refuel to fill the fuel tank, when you confirm that the tank is full and press the fuel amount setting switch, the remaining amount of fuel will be memorized. The value changes to the full tank amount. Also, if you have refilled the fuel tank in an amount that is less than full, check the refilled amount and press the fuel amount setting switch the number of times equivalent to the refilled amount. This value is approximately equal to the amount of fuel actually present in Therefore, the stored value of the remaining amount of fuel after refueling can be made accurate. If fuel is consumed by driving after refueling, the fuel consumption sensor detects the fuel consumption amount, so the detected fuel consumption amount is subtracted from the stored value of the remaining fuel amount to determine the amount of remaining fuel. The amount can be calculated. Since the detection accuracy of the fuel consumption amount is high, the accuracy of the calculated remaining fuel amount is also high.

Therefore, when refueling, as long as you operate the fuel amount setting switch correctly depending on the refueling content, you can always accurately determine the remaining fuel amount, and then multiply the remaining fuel amount by the fuel consumption. The remaining mileage is also accurate.

Problems with the Background Art However, the above-mentioned attempt by the inventor of the present application also had problems. It is easy to mistake the number of times the fuel amount setting switch is operated when refueling the fuel tank in an amount that is less than full, and if the number of operations is too large, the memorized value of the remaining fuel amount will be lost. There is a risk that the tank will exceed the full capacity. In other words, if you refuel the fuel tank less than full, unless you operate the fuel amount setting switch a number of times according to the refueling amount, the stored value of the remaining fuel amount will not actually exist in the fuel tank. does not match the amount of fuel being used. On that point, refueling to fill up the fuel tank allows you to match the memorized value of the remaining fuel amount to the amount of fuel actually present in the fuel tank by simply operating the fuel amount setting switch once. This is very different from what you would do if you did it, and there is a possibility that you could make a mistake. Therefore, it is quite possible that the stored value of the remaining fuel amount will be corrected to a value different from the actual amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank due to an error in the number of times the fuel amount setting switch is operated. If you accidentally operate the fuel amount setting switch too many times, the stored value of the remaining fuel amount may exceed the full amount of the fuel tank. A value obtained by multiplying the amount of remaining fuel exceeding the value by the fuel consumption may be displayed as the remaining drivable distance. As a result, there is a possibility that the remaining drivable distance may be displayed as a considerably longer distance than the actual distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel, and there is a concern that the reliability of the displayed remaining drivable distance will be lowered. there were.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a high accuracy of the remaining amount of fuel, which is the data necessary to calculate the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel, and moreover, when refueling. The remaining fuel amount can be accurately corrected according to the replenishment amount, and even if an error occurs in the correction operation, there is no risk that the value stored as the remaining fuel amount will exceed the full tank amount. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle measuring device of the present invention increases the reliability of data on remaining fuel amount. A mileage sensor that detects the distance traveled, a fuel consumption sensor that detects the amount of fuel consumed, a full tank sensor that generates a full tank detection signal when the fuel tank is almost full, a fuel amount setting switch, and a fuel consumption sensor that detects the amount of fuel consumed. and a remaining fuel amount storage section from which the fuel consumption amount detected by the fuel consumption amount sensor is subtracted from the stored value; and processing signals from each of the sensors, the fuel amount setting switch, and the remaining fuel amount storage section. A measurement calculation unit that performs various calculations including calculations of the amount of remaining fuel and the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel; a display unit that displays the results of calculations by the measurement calculation unit; and calculations displayed by the display unit. A measuring device for a vehicle, comprising: a display mode changeover switch for changing the type of result; and, by operating the display mode changeover switch, the type of measurement calculation result to be displayed on the display section can be changed; It is possible to realize a fuel addition correction mode in which the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining amount storage unit can be arbitrarily increased by a predetermined fuel amount unit, and the fuel amount setting switch is configured to display the remaining fuel amount. In the fuel tank mode, if the button is pressed while the full tank sensor is generating a full tank detection signal, it functions to set the remaining fuel amount storage section to the full tank storage state, and in the fuel addition correction mode, is designed to increase the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage unit by a predetermined amount each time it is pressed, and the remaining fuel amount can be increased by operating the fuel amount setting switch in the fuel addition correction mode. The fuel tank is characterized in that the remaining amount of fuel stored in the storage section does not exceed the full amount of the fuel tank.

Embodiments Below, the vehicle measuring device of the present invention will be explained in detail according to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

The drawing is a circuit block diagram showing an example of the implementation of the vehicle measuring device of the present invention, and in the figure, 1 is a microcomputer that performs measurement calculations according to a predetermined program. 2 is a central processing unit (C
PU), 3 is a read-only memory (RO) that stores programs executed by the CPU 2 and other necessary basic storage items.
M), 4 is signals from various sensors and various switches described later, and intermediate data obtained by the signals,
It is a random access memory (RAM) that stores measurement calculation results and the like as needed, and has a remaining fuel storage area that stores the amount of remaining fuel. Reference numeral 5 denotes an input circuit that can take in signals from sensors and switches, which will be described later, and sends them to the CPU 2 and RAM 4 as appropriate. Reference numeral 6 denotes an output circuit that stores a signal indicating a measurement calculation result to be displayed on the display device 7 and sends the signal to the display device 7.

The display device 7 is, for example, a liquid crystal type device, and displays the total 1j calculation results stored in the output circuit 6. Reference numeral 8 designates an address bus that interconnects the CPU 2, ROM 3, RAM 4, input circuit 5, and output circuit 6, and 9 designates a data/bus.

10 is a mileage sensor which sends an axle rotation detection signal of 1 pulse every time the vehicle axle rotates once to a microcomputer.
It is sent to the input circuit 5 of. Therefore, the mileage can be determined by multiplying the number of pulses of the axle rotation detection signal by the distance traveled per one rotation of the axle in the microcomputer 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fuel consumption sensor installed in the oil passage from the fuel tank to the engine, which sends a fuel consumption signal of 1 pulse to the input circuit 5 every time a certain minute amount of oil is fed. Therefore, the amount of fuel consumed can be determined by multiplying the number of pulses of the fuel consumption signal by the amount of oil fed per pulse in the microcomputer 1. Reference numeral 12 is a full tank sensor installed in the fuel tank, which outputs a full tank signal when the fuel tank is full, that is, the tank is full, or when there is an amount relatively close to full remaining in the fuel tank, that is, when it can be said that the tank is almost full. It is sent to the input circuit 5.

It is difficult to make the detection accuracy of the full tank sensor 12 sufficiently high, so even if only about 95% of the tank capacity remains, a full tank detection signal indicating that the tank is full is generated due to vibrations of the vehicle, etc. can be done.

SWI to SW5 are switches connected to the microcomputer 1, and SW1 is an ignition switch. When this is turned on, the transistor Q inside the microcomputer 1 is turned on, and a ground level signal is input to the input circuit 5. As a result, the microcomputer 1 is brought into a predetermined initial state. R, R, and R are resistors forming a transistor circuit. When the microcomputer 1 enters its initial state, it stores random access memory (R
AM) A signal indicating a predetermined type of measurement calculation result stored in the AM) 4 is sent to the output circuit 6, and processing such as displaying the measurement calculation result on the display device 7 is performed.

SW2 serves as a start/stop switch that utilizes the stopwatch function of the microcomputer 1 to start or stop time measurement. This start/stop switch S
W2 performs measurement calculations using the stopwatch,
If pressed while the button is displayed, it will stop the measurement calculation, and if pressed while it is stopped, it will restart the measurement calculation. SW3 is a mode changeover switch, and when pressed, the type of measurement calculation results displayed by the display device 7 can be changed in a fixed order. Modes that can be realized by operating the mode changeover switch SW3 include a driving time display mode, a travel distance display mode, an average fuel consumption display mode, an average vehicle speed display mode, a remaining fuel amount display mode, and a fuel addition correction mode. SW4 is a reset switch, and when pressed, the contents of measurement calculation results such as mileage, driving time, average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, etc. are reset to ``0''.
” and starts measurement calculations for them again. This reset switch SW4
What is reset by the operation is the measurement calculation result of the type selected and displayed by the operation of the mode changeover switch SW3. Therefore, for example, when you want to reset the mileage and a type of measurement calculation result other than the mileage is displayed, operate the mode changeover switch SW3 to switch to the state where the mileage is displayed, and then press the reset switch SW4. It is necessary to do something. Note that by operating the reset switch SW4, only certain types of measurement and calculation results such as travel distance, travel time, average fuel consumption, and average vehicle speed can be reset, and only certain types of measurement calculation results such as fuel consumption, remaining fuel amount, etc. The stored contents cannot be reset by operating the reset switch SW4.

SW5 is a fuel quantity switch, and is a full tank sensor 12.
It is designed to perform different functions depending on the content of the detection signal. That is, first, when a full tank detection signal is output from the full tank sensor 12 (this means that the fuel tank is full of fuel or an amount relatively close to it, for example, the tank capacity). When it is pressed (when 95% or more remains), it functions to rewrite the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM) 4 to the full amount. Note that the nuclear fuel N amount setting switch SW5 performs this function only when the measuring device is in a mode for displaying fuel consumption.

Second, when the full tank sensor 12 does not output a full tank detection signal (this means that the amount remaining in the fuel tank is less than the amount that can be said to be approximately full), the fuel amount setting switch SW5 Each time the fuel is pressed, the value of the stored content of the remaining fuel amount storage area is increased by a predetermined amount of fuel, for example, 1 liter. Note that the switch SW5 performs this function only when the measuring device is in the fuel addition correction mode. In the fuel addition correction mode, the number of times the switch SW5 is pressed is displayed on the display device 7.

However, when refilling to fill the fuel tank, confirm that the tank is full, then press the fuel amount setting switch SW5 once, and if you refill the amount less than full. By pressing the fuel amount setting switch SW5 a number of times according to the replenishment amount, the amount of fuel actually remaining in the tank is always stored extremely accurately in the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM) 4. You can make it seem like you are there.

In this vehicle measuring device, the fuel consumption from the time the fuel tank was filled to the present is always stored, and the fuel amount setting switch SW5 is operated when in the fuel addition correction mode. If so, the fuel consumption amount is compared with the fuel amount that is to be increased by operating the fuel amount setting switch SW5 of the stored value of the remaining fuel amount. If the amount of fuel to be increased exceeds the fuel consumption amount, the stored value of the remaining fuel amount is increased within a range that does not exceed the fuel consumption amount. This is done in order to prevent the stored value of the remaining fuel amount from exceeding the full amount of the fuel tank due to an incorrect operation of the fuel amount setting switch SW5.

That is, after refueling the fuel tank so that it is not full, operate the mode changeover switch SW3 to set the fuel addition correction mode, and operate the fuel amount setting switch SW5 to change the stored value of the remaining fuel amount (the fuel amount in RAM4). When attempting to increase the value of the remaining amount of fuel stored in the remaining amount storage area by the amount of refueling, the number of operations may be incorrect. If the number of operations is incorrect, there is a possibility that the stored value of the remaining amount of fuel may exceed the full amount of the fuel tank.

In such a case, there is a possibility that the value of the remaining travelable distance calculated by multiplying the remaining amount of fuel by the fuel consumption becomes significantly larger than the distance that can actually be traveled with the remaining fuel. Therefore, as described above, the stored value of the remaining amount of fuel is prevented from exceeding the full amount of the fuel tank.

Effect (1) When the ignition switch SWI is turned on to start the engine, the microcomputer 1 enters a predetermined initial state and selects a predetermined type of measurement calculation result stored in the random access memory (RAM) 4. The measurement calculation result is loaded to the output circuit 6. The loaded measurement calculation results are then displayed on the display device 7. At the same time, specific measurement calculations for determining fuel consumption, remaining fuel amount, etc. are started.

Then, each time the mode selector switch SW3 is pressed, different types of measurement calculation results are loaded from the random access memory (RAM) 4 to the output circuit 6, and the type of measurement @ calculation result displayed on the display device 7 is changed to a predetermined type. Switches according to the order.

Incidentally, fuel is consumed even during idling, and each time a predetermined minute amount of fuel is consumed, a fuel consumption signal is sent one pulse at a time from the fuel consumption sensor 11 to the input circuit 5 of the microcomputer 1. The number of pulses of the fuel consumption signal input to the circuit 5 is counted.

When the mode changeover switch SW3 is pressed to enter the fuel consumption display mode, the display device 7 displays the fuel consumption obtained by multiplying the count number by the fuel consumption per 1 pulse of the fuel consumption signal. be done. Further, when the fuel is consumed, the fuel consumption amount is subtracted from the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM) 4.

(2) When the vehicle finishes idling and starts running, an axle rotation detection signal is input from the mileage sensor 11 to the microcomputer l. When the axle rotation detection signal is input, the number of input pulses of the axle rotation detection signal is counted in the microcomputer 1, and when the mode changeover switch SW3 is operated to switch to the mileage display mode, the count a The display device 7 displays a value obtained by multiplying by the travel distance per rotation of the axle. Incidentally, fuel efficiency is calculated by dividing the travel distance by the fuel consumption amount, and the remaining travel distance is calculated by multiplying the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM) 4 by the fuel consumption amount. It is calculated by

(3) When measuring time using a stopwatch, operate the mode changeover switch SW3 to display the stopwatch, and then press the start/stop switch SW2. Then, the stopwatch starts measuring time. Then, when the switch SW2 is pressed again, time measurement is stopped. Thereafter, when the switch SW2 is pressed again, time measurement is restarted.

Furthermore, by pressing the reset switch SW4, the contents of the measurement calculation results regarding the travel distance, travel time, average vehicle speed, etc. can be cleared and the measurement calculations can be started again for these items.

(4) When the amount of remaining fuel is low and the vehicle needs to be refueled at a gas station, it is common to stop the engine.

Then, when the engine engine switch SWI is turned off to stop the engine, the microcomputer 1 stops measurement calculations. However, the microcomputer l always receives the power supply voltage E, and the random access memory (RA)
M) The various measurement calculation results stored in 4 are held without being cleared. However, no display is performed on the display device 7.

After refueling, turn the ignition switch SWl
Insert. If the refueling is to fill up the fuel tank, the full tank sensor 11 generates a full tank detection signal. When replenishment is performed to fill up the fuel tank in this way, the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM) 4 is used to fill up the fuel tank. You need to change the amount. To change the stored value of the remaining fuel amount to the full tank amount, press the mode changeover switch SW3 to set the remaining fuel amount display mode, and then press the fuel amount setting switch SW5 once.

Then, the full amount of the fuel tank previously stored in, for example, the read-only memory ROM3 is loaded into the remaining fuel amount storage area of the random access memory (RAM4). Therefore, the stored value of the remaining fuel amount is switched to the full tank amount.

If the fuel replenishment is insufficient to fill the fuel tank, the full tank detection signal will not be generated. If replenishment is insufficient to fill the tank in this manner, press the mode changeover switch SW3 to set the fuel addition correction mode, and press the fuel amount setting switch SW5 a number of times corresponding to the amount of refueling. Then, the fuel amount setting switch SW5
When the full tank detection signal is not being generated and the fuel addition correction mode is set, each time it is pressed, it increases the stored value of the remaining fuel amount by a predetermined amount, for example, 1 liter. For example, when refilling 10 liters of fuel, press the fuel M setting switch SW5 the number of times corresponding to the replenishment amount, for example 10 times, and the stored value of the remaining fuel amount will be increased by the replenishment amount, e.g. The value is approximately the same as the amount remaining in .

By the way, if you accidentally press the fuel amount setting switch SW5 more times than the number of times corresponding to the replenishment amount, the remaining amount of fuel in the random access memory (RAM) 4 will be set as the amount of fuel that is larger than the actual remaining amount of fuel. It will be stored in the volume storage area. However, as mentioned above, when in the fuel addition correction mode, the fuel amount setting switch S
If the W5 is destroyed, the fuel consumption from the time the fuel tank was filled up to the present,
The stored value of the remaining fuel amount is compared with the amount to be increased by operating the fuel amount setting switch SW5, and if the amount to be increased exceeds the above fuel consumption amount, the amount exceeding the amount of fuel is Increasing the memory value of the remaining amount is prohibited. Therefore, fuel amount setting switch SW5
No matter how many times the operation is performed, there is no risk that the remaining fuel amount memory value will exceed the full amount of the fuel tank.

Therefore, even if an erroneous operation is performed, it is possible to avoid a serious situation in which the stored value of the remaining amount of fuel becomes abnormally large and the value of the remaining drivable distance obtained by multiplying it by the fuel consumption becomes an abnormally large value. can.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the vehicle measuring device of the present invention includes a mileage sensor that detects the distance traveled, a fuel consumption sensor that detects the amount of fuel consumed, and a sensor that detects when the fuel tank is almost full. a full tank sensor that generates a tank detection signal, a fuel amount setting switch, and a remaining fuel amount storage section that subtracts the fuel consumption amount detected by the fuel consumption amount sensor from a stored value when fuel is consumed; a measurement calculation unit that performs various calculations including calculations for calculating the remaining fuel amount and the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel by processing signals from the sensors, the fuel amount setting switch, and the remaining fuel storage unit; A vehicle measuring device comprising: a display unit that displays the results of calculations by the measurement calculation unit; and a display mode changeover switch that switches the type of calculation results displayed by the display unit, the display mode changeover switch comprising: Additional fuel correction that allows the type of measurement calculation result to be displayed on the display section to be switched by operation, and also allows the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage section to be arbitrarily increased by a predetermined fuel amount unit. In the mode in which the remaining amount of fuel is displayed, the fuel amount setting switch is activated when a full tank detection signal is generated from the full tank sensor. It functions to bring the remaining fuel amount storage section 5 into a full tank storage state, and in the fuel addition correction mode, increases the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage section by a predetermined amount each time it is pressed. The remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage section is prevented from exceeding the full amount of the fuel tank by operating the fuel amount setting switch when the fuel addition corrector is activated. It is characterized by being

Therefore, according to the vehicle measuring device of the present invention, the accuracy of the remaining amount of fuel, which is the data necessary to calculate the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel, is extremely high, and when refueling, the amount of replenishment The amount of remaining fuel can be accurately corrected according to the amount of fuel remaining, and even if an error occurs during the correcting operation, there is no risk that the value stored as the amount of remaining fuel will exceed the full amount of the fuel tank. This makes it possible to increase the reliability of the displayed values of remaining fuel consumption and remaining drivable distance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a circuit block diagram showing an example of the implementation of the vehicular measuring device of the present invention. Explanation of symbols 2.3.4...Measurement calculation section, 7...Display section, 10.
... Mileage sensor, 11 ... Fuel consumption sensor, 1
2...Full tank sensor, 5W3--Display mode changeover switch, SW5...Fuel setting switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A mileage sensor that detects mileage, a fuel consumption sensor that detects fuel consumption, a full tank sensor that generates a full tank detection signal when the fuel tank is almost full, and a fuel amount setting switch. , a remaining fuel amount storage unit that subtracts the fuel consumption amount detected by the fuel consumption amount sensor from the stored value when the fuel is consumed; and from each of the sensors, the fuel amount setting switch and the remaining fuel amount storage unit. a measurement calculation unit that performs various calculations including calculations of the remaining amount of fuel and the distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel by processing the signal; and a display unit that displays the results of calculations by the measurement calculation unit;
A vehicular measuring device comprising: a display mode changeover switch for changing the type of calculation results displayed by the display section; It is possible to realize a fuel addition correction mode in which the type can be switched and the value of the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage section can be arbitrarily increased by a predetermined fuel amount unit, and the fuel amount setting In the mode where the remaining fuel amount is displayed, the Sui Sochi has a function that sets the remaining fuel amount storage unit to the full tank storage state when pressed while the full tank sensor is generating a full tank detection signal. As a result, when in the fuel addition correction mode, the function is made to increase the remaining fuel amount stored in the remaining fuel amount storage unit by a predetermined amount every time the button is pressed. A measuring device for a vehicle, characterized in that the remaining amount of fuel stored in a remaining fuel amount storage section is prevented from exceeding the full amount of a fuel tank by operating a fuel amount setting switch.