JP2000276097A - Light emission quantity control type display device of on-vehicle electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To visually recognize display contents fast irrelevantly to the external light state of a vehicle by controlling the luminance of a display on the on- vehicle electronic equipment widely according to the external light state. SOLUTION: A timer circuit 5 is connected to a microcomputer 6 which controls the on-vehicle electronic equipment compositively. A display unit 8 for commanding and confirming the operation of the on-vehicle electronic equipment is provided. A control circuit 7 which increases and decreases substantial display luminance is interposed between the microcomputer 6 and display unit 8. The control circuit 7 performs multistage control over the display luminance of the display unit 8 according to time data outputted from the timer circuit 5. In an evening subtle time zone wherein lights are ON or OFF, the display luminance of the display unit 8 varies so that the display contents are neither too dazzling to see with daytime display luminance nor too dark to see with nighttime display luminance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for controlling the amount of light emitted from an on-vehicle electronic device. The present invention relates to an improvement in a light emission amount control type display device which can be changed by increasing or decreasing the light emission amount by light emission or auxiliary light emission.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, on-vehicle electronic devices such as a car audio device and a car navigation device are provided with various display devices. Or the like, the intended function of the device can be executed.

[0003] Such a display employs measures to ensure that the displayed contents can be visually recognized both when the vehicle is running during the daytime and when the vehicle is running at night. That is, the display brightness on the display is controlled in accordance with each output of the "daytime operation mode" and the "nighttime operation mode" output in conjunction with the switching operation of the light switch provided on the vehicle.

A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. The illumination circuit (ILL) 1 outputs an OFF signal when switched to the “daytime operation mode” in conjunction with the switch operation of the light switch, and outputs an ON signal when switched to the “nighttime operation mode”. The microcomputer 2 receives the output signal of the illumination circuit 1 and controls the display luminance on the display 4 via the control circuit 3.

With this configuration, when the light switch is switched to the "daytime operation mode", an OFF signal is output from the illumination circuit 1 to the microcomputer 2 and the control circuit 3 operates to activate the display 4 The brightness of the display is brightened as shown in FIG. 12 (high-brightness display 4a schematically shown), so that the display contents can be visually recognized even in a bright external light state, and the light switch is set to the "night operation mode". Is switched to the illumination circuit 1
Outputs an ONF signal to the microcomputer 2 and the control circuit 3 operates to darken the display brightness on the display 4 (low-brightness display 4b schematically shown), and the display is too dazzling even in a dark external light state Thus, the display contents can be surely visually recognized without any problem, and the display contents can be surely visually recognized in both the bright external light state and the dark external light state.

[0006] Further, as a form of the display 4, an LED is used.
When a self-luminous display element such as
In some cases, a display element that cannot emit light is used by illuminating light from the back or side of the display element, and the actual display luminance of any of the elements corresponds to two modes of day / night. It is made appropriate.

[0007]

In a conventional light emission amount control type display device of an on-vehicle electronic device, display brightness is controlled based on information of a light switch for switching between a "daytime operation mode" and a "nighttime operation mode". Therefore, there are only two levels of display brightness, that is, there are only two levels of high-brightness display for daytime and low-brightness display for nighttime. In a delicate time zone of driving or switching to `` night driving mode '' and turning on the light, driving at daytime display brightness is too bright and dazzling, making it difficult to confirm the display contents, Display brightness is dark and display contents are difficult to see.

For this reason, it takes a lot of time to confirm the displayed contents, and it is difficult to concentrate on driving.
There is a possibility that the operability of the in-vehicle electronic device may be impaired.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to control the brightness of the display of the on-vehicle electronic device so as to widely correspond to the external light state of the vehicle,
An object of the present invention is to provide a light emission amount control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device capable of promptly recognizing display contents regardless of an external light state.

[0010]

The present invention employs the following characteristic structure to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(1) A light emission amount control type capable of changing a substantial display brightness of a display member for performing an operation command or an operation check of an on-vehicle electronic device by increasing or decreasing a light emission amount by self-light emission or auxiliary light emission. In the display device, the amount of self-emission by the display member, or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member, is controlled in multiple stages or continuously in accordance with current time data to substantially display luminance by the display member. A light emission amount control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device having a control circuit for controlling.

(2) The control circuit determines the amount of self-light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member by using time data obtained by clock output of a microcomputer having a clock function from daytime to nighttime. (1) The light emitting amount control type display device of the on-vehicle electronic device according to the above (1), wherein the display brightness is controlled by multi-step or continuous control in a time zone of the vehicle.

(3) The on-vehicle electronic device is constituted by a car audio device, and the control circuit outputs the amount of self light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member to a time output of a vehicle mounted clock. (1) The light emission control type display device of the on-vehicle electronic device according to the above (1), wherein the display member is controlled in multiple stages or continuously in a time period from daytime to nighttime to control the substantial display luminance.

(4) The control circuit determines the amount of self light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member in a multi-step or continuous manner in a time period in which the time output of the vehicle-mounted clock takes from daytime to nighttime. (1) The light emission amount control type display device of the in-vehicle electronic device according to the above (1), wherein the display member is controlled so as to reduce and control a substantial display luminance by the display member.

(5) The control circuit determines the amount of self light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member in multiple stages or continuously based on the time output and the seasonal output of the vehicle mounted clock. The light emission amount control type display device of the on-vehicle electronic device according to the above (1), wherein the display device is controlled to control a substantial display luminance by the display member.

(6) The control circuit controls the amount of self light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member in multiple stages or continuously based on time output data and weather output data. The light emission amount control type display device of the on-vehicle electronic device according to the above (1), wherein the display luminance is controlled by the display member.

(7) The display member is formed of a self-luminous display element, and the control circuit is configured to control the luminous intensity of the self-luminous display element (1) to (6).
The light emission control type display device of any of the on-vehicle electronic devices.

(8) The display member is formed of a liquid crystal display element, and the control circuit is configured to control illuminance for illuminating a back surface or a side surface of the liquid crystal display element. The light emission control type display device of any of the on-vehicle electronic devices.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The clock circuit 5 is connected (built-in) to a microcomputer 6 for controlling the entire on-vehicle electronic device, and the microcomputer 6 sends a time zone signal to the control circuit 7, that is, a morning / day signal, an evening signal, and a night signal. An output signal of the microcomputer 6 is transmitted through a control circuit 7 to a display 8 formed by LEDs.
Is configured to control the display luminance in the.

With this configuration, when the time zone signal from the clock circuit 5 is a morning / noon signal, the display brightness on the display 8 is increased as shown in FIG. 2 (schematically). The high-brightness display 8a) shown in FIG. 4 ensures that the displayed contents can be visually recognized even in a bright external light state.

When the time zone signal is an evening signal, the display brightness on the display 8 is changed from a bright state in the morning / noon time zone (high brightness display 8a) to an evening time as shown in FIG. As the time elapses, it is gradually reduced to a dark state of the night signal (low-brightness display 8b).

Therefore, the control circuit 7 continuously adjusts the amount of self-emission by the display member of the display 8 in a time zone in which time data obtained by the clock output of the microcomputer 6 having a clock function is applied from daytime to nighttime. Control and display 8
Is controlled.

Therefore, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle is driven in the "daytime operation mode" in which the light is turned off in the evening, or is switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In the delicate time zone of turning on the light or driving, the brightness gradually decreases, so the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to confirm the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime The display contents are not dark and the display contents are not difficult to see, and the display contents are surely visible without excessively dazzling even in the dark external light state, in the case of the bright external light state and in the case of the dark external light state The display contents can be surely visually recognized even in the case of.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. While the first embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a microcomputer having a built-in clock circuit, the present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to all clock circuits mounted on a vehicle. The audio device 9 is controlled in a complex manner by the microcomputer 10 to perform the intended operation, and is configured without a built-in clock circuit. The microcomputer 10 of the audio device 9 has an on-board clock 13
Is connected, and outputs a time zone signal, that is, a morning / day signal, an evening signal, and a night signal, from the vehicle-mounted clock 13 to the microcomputer 10.
1, the display brightness of the display 12 formed of LEDs is controlled.

With this configuration, when the time zone signal from the on-board clock 13 is a morning / noon signal,
The brightness of the display on the display unit 12 is increased as shown in FIG. 4 (a high-brightness display 12a schematically shown), so that the display content can be reliably viewed even in a bright external light state.

When the time zone signal is an evening signal, the display brightness on the display 12 is changed from a bright state in the morning / noon time zone (high brightness display 12a) to an evening time as shown in FIG. As the time elapses, it is gradually reduced to reach a dark state of the night signal (low-brightness display 12b).

Therefore, the display 1 is controlled by the control circuit 11.
The display luminance of the display 8 is controlled by continuously controlling the amount of self-emission by the display member 2 in a time period in which time data obtained by the clock output of the vehicle-mounted clock 13 extends from daytime to nighttime.

Therefore, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle can be operated in the "daytime operation mode" in which the light is turned off in the evening or switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In the delicate time zone of turning on the light or driving, the brightness gradually decreases, so the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to confirm the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime The display contents are not dark and the display contents are not difficult to see, and the display contents are surely visible without excessively dazzling even in the dark external light state, in the case of the bright external light state and in the case of the dark external light state The displayed contents can be surely visually recognized even during the period of.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The first and second embodiments described above are examples in which the present invention is applied to a display included in an in-vehicle electronic device, whereas the present embodiment applies the present invention to all the displays mounted on a vehicle. The in-vehicle device 14 is applied and controlled in a complex manner by the microcomputer 15 to perform a desired operation, and does not include a clock circuit.

An on-board clock 18 is connected to the microcomputer 15 of the on-vehicle device 14.
The microcomputer 15 outputs a time zone signal, that is, a morning / day signal, an evening signal, and a night signal. The output signal of the microcomputer 15 is formed by an LED through the control circuit 16 and is not an audio display. The display brightness of the device 17 is controlled.

With this configuration, if the time zone signal from the on-vehicle clock 18 is a morning / noon signal,
The brightness of the display on the display 17 is increased as shown in FIG. 6 (a high-brightness display 17a schematically shown), so that the display contents can be visually recognized even in a bright external light state.

When the time zone signal is an evening signal, the display brightness on the display 17 changes from a bright state in the morning / noon time zone (high brightness display 17a) to an evening time as shown in FIG. As the time elapses, it is gradually reduced to reach a dark state of the night signal (low-brightness display 17b).

Therefore, the display 1 is controlled by the control circuit 16.
The display brightness of the display 17 is controlled by continuously controlling the amount of self-emission by the display member 7 in a time period from daytime to nighttime obtained by the clock output of the vehicle-mounted clock 18. .

Therefore, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle can be operated in the "daytime operation mode" in which the light is turned off in the evening or switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In the delicate time zone of turning on the light or driving, the brightness gradually decreases, so the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to confirm the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime The display contents are not dark and the display contents are not difficult to see, and the display contents are surely visible without excessively dazzling even in the dark external light state, in the case of the bright external light state and in the case of the dark external light state The displayed contents can be surely visually recognized even during the period of.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is an example in which the brightness of the display can be more finely controlled according to the difference in the sunset time depending on the season. The microcomputer 19 is for controlling the in-vehicle electronic device in a complex manner. A control circuit 20 connected to 19 controls the amount of self-emission by a display 21 formed of an LED in multiple stages or continuously based on a time output of a clock circuit 23 and a seasonal output of a calendar circuit 22. The display 21 is configured to control the substantial display luminance.

With this configuration, when the time zone signal from the clock circuit 23 is a morning / noon signal,
The brightness of the display on the display 21 is increased as shown in FIG. 8 (a high-brightness display 21a schematically shown), so that the display contents can be visually recognized even in a bright external light state.

Simultaneously with this, when the season is summer due to the output of the calendar circuit 22, the display brightness in the morning / daytime until the time when evening enters as shown by the solid line in FIG. Is held, and when the season is winter, the display brightness is held until the daytime before the evening as shown by the broken line.

From the bright state (high-brightness display 21a) of the display 21 in such a holding time zone, it is gradually reduced with the passage of time to a dark state of the night signal (low-brightness display 2).
1b).

The start time at which the display brightness of the display 21 is gradually reduced is set late when the season is summer,
If the season is winter, it is set earlier. In other words, the start time of the luminance reduction is delayed in summer when the sunset time is late, and the start time of the luminance reduction is advanced in the winter where the sunset time is early.

Accordingly, the amount of self-emission from the display 21 is
Based on the time output of the clock circuit 23 and the seasonal output of the calendar circuit 22, the control is continuously performed to control the substantial display luminance of the display 21.

Therefore, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle is driven in the "daytime operation mode" in which the light is turned off in the evening, or is switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In the delicate time zone of turning on the light or driving, the brightness gradually decreases, so the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to confirm the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime The display contents are not dark and the display contents are not difficult to see, and the display contents are surely visible without excessively dazzling even in the dark external light state, in the case of the bright external light state and in the case of the dark external light state In this case, the display contents can be surely visually checked, and at the same time, the display brightness changes in accordance with the late and early sunset time according to the season. it can.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is an example in which the display brightness can be more finely controlled in accordance with the difference in the external light environment due to the weather. The microcomputer 24 is for controlling the on-vehicle electronic devices in a complex manner. Is configured to continuously control the amount of self-emission by a display 26 formed of LEDs based on the output of a weather input circuit 27 that outputs time data and weather data. ing.

With such a configuration, when the time data output from the weather input circuit 27 is a morning / noon signal, the display brightness on the display 26 is increased as shown in FIG. (High-brightness display 26 schematically shown
a), display contents can be visually recognized reliably even in a bright external light state.

When the weather data output from the weather input circuit 27 at the same time is "sunny", a large luminance value is held as shown by the solid line, and when the weather data is "cloudy / rainy". Is held at a small luminance value as shown by a broken line. More specifically, when "sunny", the outside light is large, so that it is held at a large luminance value as shown by a solid line and "cloudy /
In the case of "rain", since the external light is small, the luminance value is held at a small value as indicated by a broken line.

The luminance level in such a holding state is gradually reduced with the passage of time from a bright state (high luminance display 26a) on the display 26 to a dark state (low luminance display 26b). The start time at which the brightness of the display 21 is gradually reduced is set later when the weather is “clear” and is set earlier when the weather is “cloudy / rainy”. In other words, in the case of "sunny", the external light is large, so that the start time of luminance reduction is delayed, and in the case of "cloudy / rainy", the external light is small, so the start time of luminance reduction is advanced.

Therefore, the amount of self-emission by the display 26 is
Based on the time output data from the weather input circuit 27 and the weather output data, the control is continuously performed to control the substantial display luminance of the display 26.

Therefore, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle can be driven in the "daytime operation mode" with the light turned off in the evening or switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In the delicate time zone of turning on the light or driving, the brightness gradually decreases, so the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to confirm the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime The display contents are not dark and the display contents are not difficult to see, and the display contents are surely visible without excessively dazzling even in the dark external light state, in the case of the bright external light state and in the case of the dark external light state In this case, the display contents can be surely visually recognized, and at the same time, the display luminance is changed in accordance with the difference in the external light state due to the weather, so that finer luminance control can be performed. .

The displays (8, 12, 17, 21, and 26) in the above-described first to fifth embodiments are self-luminous display devices, all of which are LEDs.
It is also possible to use a display element such as a CD that cannot emit light, and to apply illumination light from the back or side of the display element. In this case, the illuminance of the illumination light is controlled from the back or side as described above. I just need.

The type of the on-vehicle electronic device can be applied not only to the car audio device and the car navigation device but also to all types. The form of the display device is a device built in the on-vehicle electronic device or a separate device, for example, Needless to say, the display unit may be the display unit of the in-vehicle clock itself.

Further, the display brightness is set to three levels, that is, to three parts, that is, a holding part at the front of time, a holding part at the back of time, and a continuously changing part in the middle. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be controlled so as to continuously change from the front to the rear of time. In this case, the display brightness can be more finely controlled, and the display brightness can be controlled. May be a combination of time data, seasonal data, and weather data.

[0051]

As is clear from the above description, according to the display device of the present invention, the amount of self-emission from the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is determined. Since the actual display brightness of the display member is controlled by controlling in multiple stages or continuously according to the current time data, the display contents can be surely viewed even in a bright external light state. Even in a dark external light state, the display contents can be surely viewed without excessively dazzling the display contents, and the display contents can be surely confirmed in both the bright external light state and the dark external light state. Visible.

Also, between the high-brightness display for the day and the low-brightness display for the night, the vehicle can be operated in the "daytime operation mode" with the light turned off in the evening, or switched to the "nighttime operation mode". In a delicate time zone of driving with the light turned on, the display brightness for daytime is too bright and dazzling to make it difficult to see the display content, and the display brightness for nighttime is dark and the display content is difficult to see It will not be. For this reason, the time required for confirming the display contents is very short, so that it is possible to concentrate on the original driving and contribute to the safe driving, and it is possible to efficiently operate the on-vehicle electronic device.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the display brightness of the on-vehicle electronic device is controlled so as to widely correspond to the external light condition of the vehicle,
It is possible to provide a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device capable of promptly recognizing display contents regardless of an external light state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining an operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a light emission control type display device of an in-vehicle electronic device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a conventional light emission amount control type display device of a vehicle-mounted electronic device.

FIG. 12 is a control characteristic diagram for explaining an operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

5,23 Clock circuit 6,10,15,19,24 Microcomputer 7,11,16,20,25 Control circuit 8,12,17,21,26 Display 8a, 12a, 17a, 21a, 26a High brightness display 8b , 12b, 17b, 21b, 26b Low-brightness display 9 Audio equipment 13, 18 On-board clock 14 On-board equipment 22 Calendar circuit 27 Weather input circuit

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F002 AA06 EA01 EA02 EB01 EG06 EH04 GA18 GC11 2F074 AA06 AA08 AA10 BB06 BB10 EE02 EE03 GG07 5C080 AA10 BB05 DD04 EE01 EE28 FF09 GG02 GG09 JJ01 JJ02 JJ02 JJ02 JJ02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A light emission amount control type display capable of changing a substantial display luminance of a display member for performing an operation command or an operation check of an in-vehicle electronic device by increasing or decreasing a light emission amount by self light emission or auxiliary light emission. In the device, the amount of self-emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is controlled in multiple stages or continuously according to current time data to control substantial display brightness by the display member. A light emission control type display device for an in-vehicle electronic device, comprising: 2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the amount of self light emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is determined.
Time data obtained by a clock output of a microcomputer having a clock function is controlled in multiple stages or continuously in a time period from daytime to nighttime to control substantial display brightness by the display member. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display device has a light emission control type. 3. The on-vehicle electronic device is constituted by a car audio device, and the control circuit determines the amount of self-emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member.
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the time output of the vehicle mounted clock is controlled in multiple stages or continuously during a time period from daytime to nighttime to control the substantial display brightness of the display member. Light emission control type display device for in-vehicle electronic equipment. 4. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the amount of self-emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the time output of the on-vehicle clock is controlled in multiple stages or continuously during a time period from daytime to nighttime to reduce and control the substantial display brightness of the display member. Light-emission control type display device for in-vehicle electronic equipment. 5. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the amount of self-emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is determined.
2. The on-vehicle electronic device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed in multiple stages or continuously based on a time output and a seasonal output of a vehicle-mounted clock to control a substantial display luminance of the display member. Light emission control type display device for equipment. 6. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the amount of self-emission by the display member or the amount of auxiliary light emission to the display member is determined.
The light emission of a vehicle-mounted electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display member is controlled in multiple stages or continuously based on time output data and weather output data to control substantial display luminance. Quantity control type display device. 7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display member is formed of a self-luminous display element, and the control circuit is configured to control a light emission intensity of the self-luminous display element. A light emitting amount control type display device for an in-vehicle electronic device according to any one of the above. 8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said display member is formed of a liquid crystal display element, and said control circuit is configured to control illuminance for illuminating a rear surface or a side surface of said liquid crystal display element. A light emission control type display device for an in-vehicle electronic device according to claim 6.