JP2000136946A - On-vehicle display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle display device capable of displaying fine changes in quantity analogously and improving the visibility of analoguous pointer display. SOLUTION: This on-vehicle display device is provided with an organic EL display panel 11 with an organic light-emitting layer formed of organic material to emit a predetermined light when impressed with a predetermined voltage. A plurality of substantially radially extended linear display segments Fa1 are arranged to the organic EL display panel 11 in the circumferential direction at a predetermined arrangement pitch. By this, it is possible to display the image of a pointer radially narrowly extended from the vicinity of the center D of radiation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-vehicle display device for displaying a predetermined quantity such as a vehicle speed in an analog manner by a pointer image or a graph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional vehicle-mounted display device of this type, a device using a VFD (fluorescent display tube display) as a self-luminous display element is generally used. FIG. 6 shows a display example of a conventional typical display device using a VFD. Here, a plurality of display segments 1 extending radially are shown.
Are arranged in a double oval shape, and the plurality of display segments 1 display the system vehicle speed as a circular graph in an analog manner.

The analog display of the vehicle speed and the like is superior in that the vehicle speed and the like can be intuitively recognized as compared with the case where the vehicle speed and the like are numerically displayed in seven segments. In order to make it more intuitive and easy to visually recognize, as shown in FIG. 7, the width (pattern width) A of the display segments 1 and the interval (gap) B between the segments 1 in the circumferential direction of the ellipse are reduced. It is preferable to reduce the arrangement pitch of the display segments 1 so that a more detailed change in quantity can be displayed.

In particular, when a pointer image is displayed on such a display segment 1 to display a quantity, it is necessary to intuitively and easily recognize the angle change and the angular position of the displayed pointer image. The length (segment length) C of each display segment 1 in the radial direction of the ellipse needs to be a predetermined length. However, in order to increase the segment length C without increasing the size of the display device, each display segment 1 must have a length. The distance E between the inner end of the segment 1 and the center D of the ellipse is preferably as small as possible. However, the smaller the distance E, the smaller the pattern width A and the segment gap B.

[0005]

However, in a display device using a conventional VFD, the phosphor of the VFD is formed by screen printing, and the thickness thereof is on the order of several hundred μm. The lower limit of the pattern width A and the lower limit of the gap B are generally about 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm, respectively, the arrangement pitch of the display segments 1 is large, and a small quantity change cannot be displayed. Since the distance E is large, it is difficult to visually recognize the angular position and the like of the pointer image when displaying the pointer, and there is a problem that visibility is poor.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle display device capable of displaying a minute quantity change in an analog manner and improving the visibility of an analog pointer display.

[0007]

The technical means for achieving the above object comprises an organic EL display panel having an organic light emitting layer made of an organic material which emits a predetermined light when a predetermined voltage is applied, The organic EL display panel is characterized in that a plurality of linear display segments extending substantially radially are arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch in a circumferential direction.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display pattern of an organic EL display panel provided in a vehicle-mounted display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of the organic EL display panel of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a display pattern provided on the organic EL display panel of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration of a vehicle-mounted display device according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram.

As shown in FIG. 4, the in-vehicle display device includes a self-luminous organic EL display panel 11, a drive unit (constant current drive unit) 13, a microcomputer 15, a nonvolatile memory 17, and an interface 19. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an organic EL display panel 11 includes a transparent substrate 21 made of a thin glass substrate or a transparent resin substrate and an ITO (indium-tin-tin) formed on the transparent substrate 21. A transparent electrode layer 23 made of a transparent material such as an (oxide) film, a single layer or a plurality of organic light emitting layers 25 made of a predetermined organic material formed thereon, and further formed thereon It comprises a metal electrode layer 27 and a sealing case body 29 made of metal such as glass or aluminum.

The organic light emitting layer 25 and the metal electrode layer 27
The transparent electrode layer 2 is a solid pattern arranged in a plane.
3, each display segment F (see FIG. 1) is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the display segment F formed includes a first segment group Fa for displaying a quantity such as a vehicle speed and an engine speed by a pointer image or a graph, and a dial group for displaying a dial. It is composed of a second segment group Fb and a third segment group Fc for performing odometer display and trip meter display. In addition,
Here, the dial is displayed by the organic EL cover panel 11,
Odometer display and trip meter display were performed, but these may be performed by other display devices,
The dial display may be formed by printing or the like. In the odometer display and the trip meter display, only the numerical display indicating the mileage is displayed on the organic EL display panel 1.
1 and the other parts may be displayed by printing or the like.

The first display segment group Fa is composed of a plurality of elongated display segments Fa1 extending linearly radially from a predetermined radiation center D. Each display segment Fa1 is provided in a fan shape at a predetermined arrangement pitch in the circumferential direction of the radiation form. Here, the display segment Fa1 is arranged in a fan shape, but may be arranged in a circular or elliptical shape.

Here, in the organic EL display panel 11, since the display segment Fa1 can be finely formed by using an etching technique or the like, the lower limits of the pattern width A and the gap B of the display segment Fa1 are set to 0.1 mm or less. can do.

For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG.
A display segment Fa1 is provided for every km / h,
When the vehicle speed of 00 km / h is displayed in the range of 200 °, the lower limit of the pattern width A and the gap B of the display segment Fa1 is set to 0.1 mm (that is, the inner end of the display segment Fa1). Is 0.2 mm), the distance E between the inner end of each display segment Fa1 and the radiation center D is 2
Since πE · (2/360) ≒ 0.2 mm, the distance becomes 5.7 mm, whereby the non-light emitting area G surrounded by the inner end of each display segment Fa1 is reduced.

[0015] Such a plurality of display segments Fa1
As shown in FIG. 3, each is composed of a plurality of transparent electrode layers 23 arranged on a transparent substrate 21 in a predetermined arrangement pattern. Each transparent electrode layer 23 is composed of a segment portion (hatched portion) 23a constituting the display segment Fa1, and a conductive wire portion 23b drawn from the end of the segment portion 23a to the outer edge of the transparent substrate 21, As shown in FIG. 2, each of the transparent electrode layers 23 is provided at a portion where the conductive wire portion 23b faces the organic light emitting layer 25 so that the organic light emitting layer 25 does not emit light due to the voltage applied by the conductive wire portion 23b. An insulating layer 31 covering the conductor 23b is provided between the conductor 23a and the organic light emitting layer 25. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a predetermined lead frame 33 is connected to the conductive wire portion 23b of the transparent electrode layer 23 drawn out to the outer edge of the transparent substrate 21.

Each of the display segments of the other segment groups Fb and Fc is also constituted by a segment portion 23a of a predetermined transparent electrode layer 23.

The metal electrode layer 27 and the organic light emitting layer 25 are
A portion of the organic light emitting layer 25 which is formed in a planar shape so as to cover all the transparent electrode layers 23 and is opposed to the segment 23a of each transparent electrode layer 23 by each transparent electrode layer 23 and the metal electrode layer 27. When a DC voltage is applied to the portion, the organic light emitting layer 25 in that portion emits light, whereby the corresponding predetermined display segment (Fa1 or the like) is driven to be lit. The light 35 emitted from the organic light emitting layer 25 passes through the transparent electrode layer 23 and the transparent substrate 21 and exits the display panel 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the interface 19 receives an electric signal indicating a predetermined quantity such as a vehicle speed pulse, performs voltage level conversion and waveform shaping, and outputs the result to the microcomputer 15. The non-volatile memory 17 stores travel distance data for odometer display and trip meter display. The drive unit 13 controls the display segment (Fa1) of the organic EL display panel 11 under the control of the microcomputer 15.
Etc.) are individually driven at a constant current.

The microcomputer 15 includes a microcomputer chip and peripheral elements, and receives a signal such as a vehicle speed pulse indicating a predetermined quantity value input through the interface 19 through the driving unit 13 to drive the organic EL display panel 11. The display segments (Fa1, etc.) of the first and second display segment groups Fa and Fb are individually lit, and the quantity such as the vehicle speed is displayed by a pointer or a graph. Also,
At the same time, the microcomputer 15
The travel distance for odometer display or trip meter display is sequentially calculated based on the vehicle speed pulse input through the controller, and the travel distance stored in the nonvolatile memory 17 is sequentially updated. Each display segment of the eleventh third display segment group Fc is individually driven to light up, and odometer display and trip display are performed.

Whether the quantity such as the vehicle speed is displayed by a pointer or a graph is determined by the control of the microcomputer 15 based on an operation input from a setting input unit (not shown).

When the quantity is displayed by the pointer display,
A plurality of display segments F of the first display segment group Fa
By driving only the display segment Fa1 corresponding to the quantity value to be displayed out of a1, a pointer image indicating the quantity value at that time is displayed.

When the quantity is displayed in a graph, the quantity to be displayed of the plurality of display segments Fa1 of the first display segment group Fa is set to the maximum value, and all quantities (values) smaller than the quantity are displayed. Is turned on, and the other display segments Fa1 are driven to be turned off, so that a graph image showing the quantity value at that time is displayed.

As described above, in the organic EL display panel 11, since the transparent electrode layer 23 constituting the display segment Fa1 can be formed by the etching technique or the like, it is suitable for fine processing, and the pattern width A and the gap of the display segment Fa1 are different. B can be set to 0.1 mm or less, thereby making it possible to reduce the circumferential arrangement pitch P of the plurality of display segments Fa1 in the circumferential direction and to display a finer quantity change, and to display each display segment Fa1. The distance E between the inner end of Fa1 and the radiation center D of the radiation form is reduced, and a pointer image that is elongated radially from the vicinity of the radiation center (D) is displayed without increasing the size of the display device. be able to. Thereby, the angle change and the angular position of the pointer image can be easily visually recognized, and the quantity change can be easily visually recognized.

Further, since the organic EL display panel 11 can be driven at a low voltage of about 10 V, it can be easily applied to a vehicle using a battery power supply.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the organic E
In the L display panel, the pattern electrodes forming the display segments are suitable for microfabrication, and the pattern width (A) and gap (B) of the display segments can be set to 0.1 mm or less. It is possible to display a finer quantity change by reducing the circumferential arrangement pitch of the radiation form of the display segments, and to display the distance between the inner end of each display segment and the radiation center (D) of the radiation form. (E) can be reduced, and a pointer image elongated and radially extended from the vicinity of the radiation center (D) can be displayed without increasing the size of the display device. Thereby, the angle change and the angular position of the pointer image can be easily visually recognized, and the quantity change can be easily visually recognized.

Also, PDP (plasma display panel), FED (field emission display)
When an inorganic EL display panel is used as a display element, a driving voltage of 50 to 100 V is required, and there is a problem of how to supply power when mounted on a vehicle. Can be driven at a low voltage of about 10 V, and can be easily applied to a vehicle using a battery power supply.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a display pattern of an organic EL display panel provided in an in-vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the organic EL display panel of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a display pattern provided in the organic EL display panel of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the vehicle-mounted display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a specific arrangement example of a plurality of display segments radially provided on the organic EL display panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a typical on-vehicle display device using a conventional VFD.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 organic EL display panel 21 transparent substrate 23 transparent electrode layer 25 organic light emitting layer 27 metal electrode layer 29 sealing case body Fa1 display segment

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Tomita 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. (reference) 2F041 GA01 GB02 QA02 QA03 3D044 BA21 BB01 BD01 BD13 3K007 AB06 AB17 CA01 CB01 CC00 DB03 EB00

Claims (1)

[Claims] An organic EL display panel having an organic light emitting layer made of an organic material that emits predetermined light when a predetermined voltage is applied, wherein the organic EL display panel has a plurality of lines extending substantially radially. An in-vehicle display device, wherein display segments in a shape of a circle are arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch in a circumferential direction.