JP2001058522A - Instrument display device for automobile use - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable displaying necessary information only, representing it easy to read, by providing a display control means to display a display form according to the gearing mode that has been detected by a gearing mode detecting means. SOLUTION: If a gearing mode selector switch is not on, a display form of automatic gearing mode is displayed on a liquid crystal display 5, and if the gearing mode selector switch is on, a display form of manual gearing mode is displayed. When a select lever is at D4, D3 position and a vehicle travels with an automatic gearing mode, the current speed of vehicle is displayed on a speed meter display part 42 which is easy to read, and this is extremely convenient. If it is necessary, the revolution rate of engine can be known by a tachometer display part 41. If a select lever is operated rightward during the travel at an automatic gearing mode in D4 position, a gearing mode selector switch becomes on, and a display form of a manual gearing mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5.

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 an instrument of an automobile having a transmission capable of selectively setting two shift modes, an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic shift mode in which a computer determines a driving condition and a driver's will based on a throttle opening and an acceleration and the like and automatically shifts, and a manual shift mode in which a shift is performed by a shift shift operation of a driver are selectively performed. Automobiles equipped with a transmission that can be set and that can be selected and enjoyed between easy running in the automatic shifting mode and sporty running in the manual shifting mode are particularly common in sport-type cars.

[0003] Generally, P
(Parking), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), 2 (Second), 1 (Fast), etc. During normal running, set the select lever to the D position and run in automatic shift mode. .

Only when the select lever is at the D position, the shift mode is set to a manual shift mode as it is or by turning on a switch, and a shift switch provided separately is operated to shift the shift range under the will of the driver. You can go up and down.

The shift switch in the manual shift mode is an operation switch for raising and lowering the shift range. In the example described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-100723, the shift switch is mounted so as to protrude radially from the steering column. The switch is disclosed as a lever switch, and a shift switch by the shift lever outputs a shift-up signal every time the swing operation is performed counterclockwise from the neutral position, and a shift-down signal is generated each time the swing operation is performed clockwise. This is a momentary switch that is output and returns the shift lever to the neutral position after operation.

Since the shift range rises and falls according to the signal of the shift switch, it is difficult to know the actually set shift range in the manual shift mode. A shift range display section for displaying the shift range actually set in the speedometer of the panel is specially provided. As another example, a head-up display HUD
It is disclosed that the shift range is displayed on the display.

[0007]

By the way, instruments such as a speedometer, a tachometer, a water temperature gauge, a fuel gauge, an auto cruise, a headlight, a seat belt, a side brake, and the like are provided on a display panel of instruments provided on an instrument panel. Numerous information display devices are provided, such as status display lamps indicating the status of airbags and the like, warning lamps for brake abnormalities, charging system abnormalities, oil abnormalities, etc., and sometimes a liquid crystal screen for navigation.

Accordingly, even if a speed range display section is provided in a speedometer, which is one of them, it is not noticeable, and it is not always easy for a driver to visually recognize while driving. It is sufficient to provide a large area to the shift range display unit. However, for that purpose, it is necessary to increase the size of a speedometer, which affects other instruments in a limited display space.

Further, in order to form a head-up display HUD, an LCD display, a backlight, a mirror, a hologram lens, and the like are required, each of which must be arranged at a predetermined position, which increases the space and cost.

In addition to the above-mentioned display of the shift range, the information required by the driver differs between the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode. The driver is obstructed by the extra display, making it difficult for the driver to perceive the information actually needed.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of such a point,
An object of the present invention is to provide an automotive instrument display device in which the display mode is switched according to the shift mode so that only necessary information can be easily seen and visibility of a running state is improved.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automotive vehicle having a transmission capable of selectively setting two shift modes, an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode. In a vehicle instrument display device that displays information on a display unit, a shift mode detecting unit that detects the shift mode, and a display mode is switched according to the shift mode detected by the shift mode detecting unit and displayed on the display unit. An instrument display for automobiles provided with a display control means.

Since the display mode is switched and displayed on the same display unit according to the shift mode, a display mode corresponding to the automatic shift mode and a display mode corresponding to the manual shift mode are selected by effectively using the limited display space. Information that is unnecessary is not displayed in each shift mode, and only information that is necessary can be displayed in an easy-to-view manner, thereby improving the recognizability of the running state.

In the display mode in the manual shift mode, unnecessary information is not displayed but only necessary information is displayed, so that the shift range can be displayed easily in the display. Also, there is no need to provide a special display device for displaying the shift range, and the cost is low.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle instrument display device of the first aspect, the display section is a liquid crystal display screen. Various instruments can be imaged and displayed, and the display form can be freely designed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the instrument display device for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, the display control means particularly emphasizes a lever position display and a speed display corresponding to an automatic shift mode. And displaying a display mode in which the shift range display and the engine speed display are particularly emphasized corresponding to the manual shift mode.

In the automatic shift mode, it is convenient that the position of the select lever operated by the driver is displayed on the instrument display device without confirming the state of the select lever one by one. The performance is not so high and a speedometer is sufficient.

In the manual shift mode, the tachometer needs to display the engine speed at the time of shifting by the driver's intention, and the actually set shift range is essential information. Is difficult. By setting the display mode in which the necessary information is emphasized by such a shift mode, the required information can be easily recognized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle instrument display device according to the first or second aspect, the display control means includes a shift range display section corresponding to the manual shift mode. A display mode is provided in which a shiftable direction display section is also provided near the shift range display section.

Since the shiftable direction display section is displayed near the shift range display section, the driver operating in the manual shift mode displays the current shift range and the directions in which the upshift and downshift can be performed from the running state together with the current shift range. It can be easily recognized and the shift operation is easy.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the front of the driver's seat side in the cabin of an automobile 1 according to the present embodiment.

An instrument panel 3 extending left and right along the lower edge of the front window 2 is projected forward. An instrument display section is provided on the driver's seat side of the instrument panel 3, a large liquid crystal display 5 is provided in front of the steering wheel 4, and lamp display sections 6 and 7 of various lamps are provided on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display 5. .

The console panel 8 provided between the driver's seat and the passenger seat includes a hand brake 9 and a select lever.
10 are protruding. The select lever 10 projects from the groove 12 of the guide cover 11 as shown in FIG.

The groove 12 of the guide cover 11 is
In order to prevent the erroneous operation of 10, it has a shape that is curved and deformed in the left-right width direction at several points in the front-rear direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, P, R, N, D4, D3 ,
There are 2 and 1 positions, and there is a M position which is a neutral position in the manual shift mode with a groove branched to the right from the D4 position, and a shift up position (+ position) and a shift down position before and after the M position. (-Position) is formed.

The select lever 10 has P, R, N, D4,
D3, 2, and 1 are held with appropriate moderation in each position, and the corresponding position switches 15
Is turned on, and here, the D4 and D3 position switches 15 instruct the traveling in the automatic shift mode.

When the select lever 10 is operated rightward from the D4 position to reach the M position, it is biased and held in a neutral state, and the corresponding shift mode changeover switch 16
Is turned on, the mode is switched to the manual shift mode, and the running in the manual shift mode is instructed.

When the select lever 10 is swung forward from the M position to the + position, the shift-up switch 17 is turned on to instruct the shift-up of the shift range. When the select lever 10 is swung backward from the M position to the-position, the downshift switch 18 is turned on to instruct the downshift of the shift range.

The shift-up switch 17 and the shift-down switch 18 are momentary switches. When the select lever 10 is swung back and forth from the M position, the operation returns to the original M position by the urging force after the operation. ing.

On the other hand, the details of the instrument display section of the instrument panel 3 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a display state in the automatic transmission mode, and FIG. 5 shows a display state in the manual transmission mode.

The display mode displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 occupying a large area in the center is different between the automatic shift mode and the manual shift mode. The lamp display sections 6 and 7 on both sides of the shift mode are provided with various lamps. Does not change.

That is, a high beam indicator 21, an exhaust temperature warning light 22, a charge warning light 23,
Hydraulic warning light 24, SRS (airbag) warning light 25, ABS
(Anti-lock brake system) A warning light 26 is disposed, and a right side lamp display section 7 has a door status display light 27, a cruise control operation light 28, a seat belt warning light 29, a brake warning light 30, and a fuel remaining amount warning light 31. These various lamps 21 to 31 need to always be displayed regardless of the shift mode.

A free image can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 5. In the automatic transmission mode, as shown in FIG. 4, a tachometer display section 41 is shown on the left and a speedometer display section 42 is shown on the right.
Are displayed in a large scale, simulating a circular meter. A gear range display section 43 is displayed small below the tachometer display section 41.

Between the tachometer display section 41 and the speedometer display section 42, there is displayed a lever position display section 44 in which respective positions of P, R, N, D4, D3, 2, 1 are vertically arranged in this order. . The lever position display section corresponding to the position set by operating the select lever 10 is displayed brightly.

A water temperature indicator 4 is displayed below the position indicator 44.
5. The fuel gauge display 46 is displayed small left and right, and the turn signal display 4
7, 48 is displayed. As described above, in the automatic transmission mode, the speedometer display section 42 is displayed large and the lever position display section 44 is displayed at the center for easy viewing.

On the other hand, in the manual shift mode, as shown in FIG. 5, the tachometer display section 51 is displayed in an elliptical shape over the entire screen of the liquid crystal display 5, and the tachometer display section is displayed.
A speedometer display section 52 is displayed in a small circle at the lower right of 51. Further, a transmission range display section 53 is displayed in a rectangular shape at the upper center of the tachometer display section 51.

Speed change direction display sections 54 and 55 are displayed above and below the shift range display section 53, and a turn signal display section is displayed on the left and right.
56 and 57 are displayed. At the lower part of the tachometer display section 51, a water temperature gauge display section 58 and a fuel gauge display section 59 are displayed on the left and right small like the automatic shift mode, and there is no lever position display section.

As described above, in the manual shift mode, the tachometer display section 51 is displayed large and the shift range display section 53 is displayed at the center for easy viewing. Shift range display
In 53, the actually set shift range is displayed by a numeral.

The upper and lower shiftable direction display sections 54 and 55 are
The direction in which the gear can be shifted from the current traveling state is displayed. That is, the upper gear shiftable direction display unit 54 is brightly displayed if upshifting is possible, and the lower gearable direction display unit is displayed if shiftdown is possible. 55 is displayed brightly.

The above liquid crystal display 5 and various lamps
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a display control system for controlling 21 to 31. The computer-based display control device 60 includes various sensors for detecting vehicle speed, engine speed, and other driving conditions.
A signal of traveling state information is inputted from 61, and an on / off signal of the position switch 15 and the shift mode changeover switch 16 is inputted.

Further, based on the ON signals of the shift-up switch 17 and the shift-down switch 18 in the manual shift mode, the information signal of the shift range set by the transmission controller 62 is input to the display control device 60.

Further, the liquid crystal display 5 is controlled by the shift mode.
The on / off signal from the variable display selection switch 63 that allows the driver to select whether or not to switch the display mode to be displayed is input to the display control device 60. This variable display selection switch 63 is conveniently provided near the liquid crystal display 5.

The display control device 60 to which the above signals are input is:
The signal is processed and a control signal is output to the image control means 65 and the lamp driving means 66. The image control means 65 is a liquid crystal display 5
An image is displayed on the lamp, and the lamp driving means 66
Turn on and off 31.

Liquid crystal display 5 by display control device 60
FIG. 7 shows a schematic control flow of the display control of FIG. First, it is determined in step 1 whether or not the ignition switch is turned on. If the ignition switch is not turned on, no image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 and the main display control is not performed.

In step 2, it is determined whether or not the variable display selection switch 63 is on. If not, the process jumps to step 5 to display the automatic shift mode display mode (FIG. 4).
Display).

That is, when the variable display selection switch 63 is not turned on, regardless of the actual shift mode, the display mode of the automatic shift mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 even in the manual shift mode. .

In step 2, the variable display selection switch 63
When it is determined that is turned on, the routine proceeds to step 3, where it is determined whether or not the shift mode changeover switch 16 is turned on. If the shift mode changeover switch 16 has not been turned on, the process jumps to step 5 and the display form of the automatic shift mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5.
To display the manual shift mode display mode (see FIG. 5).

Therefore, when the variable display selection switch 63 is turned on, the normal select lever 10 is set to P, R, N, D
4, D3, 2, 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 in an automatic shift mode display mode as shown in FIG.

The current position of the select lever 10 is displayed on the central lever position display section 44,
It is easy to see and can be easily recognized. When the select lever 10 is in the D4 and D3 positions and the vehicle is running in the automatic shift mode, the current vehicle speed is displayed on the speedometer display section 42 which is easy to see and very convenient. If necessary, the engine speed can be known from the tachometer display section 41.

When the select lever 10 is in the D4 position and the vehicle is traveling in the automatic shift mode, the select lever 10 is operated to the right to move the switch to the M position, whereby the shift mode changeover switch 16 is turned on and the liquid crystal display 5 Figure 5
The display form of the manual shift mode as shown in FIG.

The tachometer display section 51 of the liquid crystal display 5
The shift range is shifted up by operating the select lever 10 forward while looking at the engine speed and the current shift range displayed on the shift range display section 53 and viewing the shiftable direction display sections 54 and 55. By operating backward, the shift range can be shifted down, and a more sporty running based on the driver's will can be achieved.

Here, an unnecessary lever position display section is omitted from the liquid crystal display 5, and the tachometer display section 51 is displayed in a large size, and the shift range display section 53 is also located at a central easy-to-see position. The shift range can be easily recognized, and the shift operation can be performed extremely easily.

When the select lever 10 is operated from the M position to the left to shift to the D4 position, the shift mode changeover switch 16 is turned off and the display mode returns to the automatic shift mode display mode shown in FIG.

If it is desired to fix the display mode of the automatic transmission mode shown in FIG. 4 even when the mode is switched to the manual transmission mode, the variable display selection switch 63 may be turned off, and the driver can set freely.

By changing the display form of the liquid crystal display 5 as described above, the lever position display section 44 and the speedometer display section 52 which are particularly required in the automatic transmission mode.
4 in which the shift range display unit 53 and the tachometer display unit 51, which are particularly required in the manual shift mode, are emphasized. The information required by the driver can be reliably provided in the limited display space where the information of the vehicle is displayed, and the recognition of the driving state can be improved.

A liquid crystal display simulates a meter instead of mechanical meters to display images, and there is no need to provide a separate display device for displaying the shift range and other information, thereby reducing costs. .

The various lamps disposed on the left and right lamp display sections 6 and 7 of the liquid crystal display 5 may also display images on the screen of the liquid crystal display. You can also.

The shift-up / shift-down operation in the manual shift mode is performed by operating the select lever 10. However, the shift lever may be provided separately from the select lever or as a button switch. A mode changeover switch is separately provided as a switch for directly operating, for example.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a driver's seat side front in a vehicle compartment of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a select lever and a guide cover.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a lever position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display mode and a lamp display section in an automatic shift mode displayed on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display mode and a lamp display unit in a manual shift mode displayed on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a display control system.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart showing a display control procedure of the liquid crystal display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... car, 2 ... front window, 3 ... instrument panel, 4 ... handle, 5 ... liquid crystal display,
6, 7: lamp display section, 8: console panel, 9: hand brake, 10: select lever, 11: guide cover, 12: groove, 15: position switch, 16: shift mode changeover switch, 17: shift up switch, 18… Shift down switch, 21… High beam indicator, 22…
Exhaust temperature warning light, 23… Charging warning light, 24… Hydraulic warning light, 25
... SRS (airbag) warning light, 26 ... ABS (anti-lock brake system) warning light, 27 ... door status indicator light,
28: Cruise control operation light, 29: Seat belt warning light, 30: Brake warning light, 31: Fuel remaining amount warning light 41: Tachometer display, 42: Speedometer display, 43
... Shift range display, 44 ... Lever position display, 45
... Water temperature gauge display, 46 ... Fuel gauge display, 47,48 ... Turn signal display, 51 ... Tachometer display, 52 ... Speedometer display, 53 ... Shift range display, 54,55 ... Shift direction display Sections, 56, 57: Turn signal display section, 58: Water temperature gauge display section, 59: Fuel gauge display section, 60: Display controller, 61
Various sensors, 62: transmission controller, 63: variable display selection switch, 65: image control means, 66: lamp driving means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle instrument display device for displaying vehicle information of an automobile having a transmission capable of selectively setting two shift modes of an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode on a display unit, wherein the shift mode is set to An instrument display device for a vehicle, comprising: a shift mode detecting means for detecting; and a display control means for switching a display mode in accordance with the shift mode detected by the shift mode detecting means and displaying on a display unit. 2. The instrument display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal display screen. 3. The display control means displays a display form in which a lever position display and a speed display are particularly emphasized corresponding to an automatic shift mode, and displays a shift range display and an engine speed display corresponding to a manual shift mode. The instrument display device for an automobile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a display form particularly emphasized is displayed. 4. The display control means displays a display form including a shift range display section corresponding to the manual shift mode and a shiftable direction display section near the shift range display section. The instrument display device for an automobile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein