JP2001175206A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide a display device which is capable of more arousing a warning. SOLUTION: A display section 10 is constituted by laminating transparent light guide plates 10a to 10c formed with warning characters of different sizes or shapes on the forming surfaces of the warning characteristics and providing these plates with light sources 12a to 12c in correspondence to the plurality of light guide plates 10a to 10c. Light is introduced into the corresponding light guide plates 10a to 10c and the warning characters formed on the light guide plates 10a to 10c are displayed on the display surface of the display section 10. A control means 13a causes the shuttle lighting of the plurality of light sources 12a to 12c in predetermined order when carrying out the warning.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a display device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a display device that displays a warning character at the time of a warning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a warning character of this type, for example, a fuel remaining amount warning which is provided in a combination meter in a vehicle and warns that the remaining amount of fuel is low, and that a seat belt is not used. There were warnings such as seat belt warnings. A display device for displaying these warning characters has conventionally been configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a display device includes a display unit 1 on which a warning character such as a remaining fuel amount warning and a seat belt warning is printed on a transparent substrate made of, for example, polycarbonate, and a light blocking device that blocks external light. A warning character is displayed by turning on the light source 3a or 3b at the time of a warning while providing the case 2 and the light sources 3a and 3b housed in the blocking case 2.

[0003]

By the way, when a warning character is simply displayed by the above-mentioned display device at the time of warning, it is often inconspicuous and the warning is not noticed. Therefore, there has been a demand for giving a warning to the warning character, for example, to make the character stand out, and to further raise a warning. However, in the display device as shown in FIG. 5, it is not possible to give a motion to a warning character, and conventionally, there has been no choice but to display a moving warning character using a high-cost liquid crystal.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device which can raise a warning more inexpensively by paying attention to the above problems.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light guide plate in which the same warning characters having different sizes or shapes are formed. A display unit stacked on the forming surface, provided corresponding to the plurality of light guide plates, introducing light into the corresponding light guide plate, and displaying the warning character formed on the light guide plate on the display unit. A display device comprises: a plurality of light sources to be displayed on a surface; and control means for automatically and repeatedly lighting the plurality of light sources in a predetermined order when a warning is issued.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display unit comprises:
A transparent light guide plate on which the same warning character having a different size or shape is formed is formed by laminating on the surface on which the warning character is formed, and a light source is provided corresponding to the plurality of light guide plates, and the corresponding light guide plate is provided. And a warning character formed on the light guide plate is displayed on the display surface of the display unit, and when the control unit issues a warning, the plurality of light sources are automatically turned on in a predetermined order. . Therefore, when a warning is issued, a plurality of light sources are automatically turned on and turned back in a predetermined order, and accordingly, the same warning character having a different size or shape formed on the light guide plate corresponding to each light source. Can be displayed in sequence, and without using a liquid crystal or the like, for example, by displaying the same warning character in different shapes in order, it is possible to make the warning character appear to be moving, or to display one of the warning characters. The part can be seen as lit.

The invention according to claim 2 further comprises a coloring member provided on the display surface of the display unit and configured to prevent a warning character from being displayed on a light guide plate corresponding to a non-lighted light source. A display device according to claim 1, wherein

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the coloring member is provided on the display surface of the display unit and prevents the display of the warning character formed on the light guide plate corresponding to the light source that is not turned on. The warning character formed on the light guide plate corresponding to the light source that is not turned on is not displayed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the same lightening characters having different sizes are respectively formed on the plurality of light guide plates, and the control means turns on the light source so that the lightening characters are displayed in order from the smallest warning character. The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display device is controlled.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same warning characters having different sizes are formed on the plurality of light guide plates, and the control means controls the lighting of the light source so that the smaller warning characters are displayed in order. Therefore, when a warning is given, by displaying the same warning characters of different sizes in order from the smaller warning character, it is possible to make the warning character appear to be gradually enlarged.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the warning character is formed by providing the light guide plate with a reflection structure for reflecting light introduced from the light source to a display surface of the display unit. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the warning character is formed by providing the light guide plate with a reflection structure for reflecting the light introduced from the light source on the display surface of the display unit. A warning character can be easily formed only by providing the light guide plate itself with the reflection structure without adding a separate member such as a fluorescent paint to the light guide plate.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a display device of the present invention.
This display device is provided, for example, in a combination meter in a vehicle, and displays a warning character when the remaining fuel amount is reduced to a predetermined value or less to warn that the remaining fuel amount is low. I do. In the figure, reference numerals 10a to 10c denote transparent acrylic substrates (= light guide plates), on which the same warning characters 11a to 11c similar to each other, small, medium and large, are provided.
It is formed by providing a V-shaped groove A (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the shape by drawing. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 10 is formed by laminating the acrylic substrates 10a to 10c on the formation surfaces of the warning characters 11a to 11c.

The acrylic substrates 10a to 10c
LEDs 12a to 12c are provided on the side surfaces of the display device 10 for introducing light to the corresponding substrates and displaying warning characters 11a to 11c formed on the substrates on the display surface of the display unit 10. (= Light source) is provided for each. And these LEDs 12a
To 12c are microcomputers (hereinafter referred to as μCOM)
13 and is turned on in response to the output of the control signals S1, S2 and S3 from the μCOM 13.

The above-mentioned μCOM 13 is a central processing unit (CPU) 13 which performs various processes according to programs.
a, a ROM 13b which is a read-only memory storing a program for processing to be performed by the CPU 13a, and a CPU 1
3a, a built-in RAM 13c, which is a readable and writable memory having a work area used in various processing steps, a data storage area for storing various data, and the like, are interconnected by bus lines.
Further, the μCOM 13 is supplied with a remaining amount signal S4 corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel output from the remaining amount meter 14.

The CPU 13a in the μCOM 13 functions as a control means. As a result of taking in the remaining amount signal S4, if the fuel is below a predetermined value, the LED 13a → LED12b → LED12c → L
By repeatedly turning on the EDs 12a, the small warning characters 11a, the middle warning characters 11b, the large warning characters 11c, and the small warning characters 11c are displayed on the display surface of the display unit 10, as shown in FIG. A control process is performed to display the warning and warn that the remaining amount of fuel is low.

The operation of the above-described display device will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 showing the processing procedure of the CPU 13a of the μCOM 13. The CPU 13a starts the operation by turning on the ignition switch, and in an initial step (not shown), the RAM 1 in the μCOM 13
After the initial setting of various areas formed in 3c, the process proceeds to the first step S1, in which the remaining amount signal S4 corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel output from the remaining amount meter 14 is read and the RAM 13c is read.
Is stored in the remaining area z formed therein. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the value stored in the remaining amount area z is equal to or less than the predetermined value, that is, if the remaining amount of fuel is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the determination in step S2 becomes YES and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, when the control signal S1 is output, the LED 12a is turned on. When the LED 12a is turned on, light is introduced into the acrylic substrate 10a, and the introduced light is reflected toward the display surface by the V-shaped groove A on the acrylic substrate 10a.
1a will be displayed. Next, steps S4 and S5
And outputs the control signals S2 and S3 in this order, and causes the display unit 10 to display the middle warning character 11b and the large warning character 11c formed on the acrylic substrates 10b and 10c in this order. Step S3 to above
By displaying the warning character in the order of small → middle → large according to 4, it is possible to make the warning character appear to be gradually expanding, to make the display of the warning character stand out, and to further raise a warning. .

As described above, the V-shaped groove A is formed by drawing.
Forming a warning character on the acrylic substrate 10a simply by providing the acrylic substrate with a reflection structure for reflecting light introduced from the LED 12a to the display surface of the display unit 10 without adding an additional member. , The configuration becomes simple and the cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the value stored in the remaining area z is larger than the predetermined value, that is, if the remaining fuel amount is larger than the predetermined value, the determination in step S2 is NO and the process proceeds to step S1. At this step S2, if the remaining amount of fuel is larger than the predetermined value, no warning character is displayed. When the remaining fuel amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value, steps S3, S4, and S5 are repeatedly performed until the remaining fuel amount exceeds the predetermined value by refueling. The display will be repeated.

By the way, for example, when the LED 12b is turned on, light introduced into the acrylic substrate 10b leaks to the acrylic substrate 10a or 10c, and the leaked light is irregularly reflected by a V-shaped groove in the acrylic substrate 10a or 10c. When the weak light that is a part of the irregularly reflected light is emitted toward the display surface, a warning character 11a or 11c corresponding to the slightly but not lit LED 12a or 12c may be displayed. .
When none of the LEDs 12a to 12c is turned on, external light is introduced from the display surface of the display unit 10 to the acrylic substrates 10a to 10c, and is irregularly reflected by the V-shaped groove, thereby generating the warning characters 11a to 11c. 11c may be displayed faintly.

Therefore, on the display surface of the display unit 10, there is provided a transmissive dial plate (= coloring means) 15, for example, made by applying smoke printing on acrylic, so that the weak light from the display unit 10 toward the display surface is outside. , The display of the warning characters 11a to 11c corresponding to the unlit LEDs 12a to 12c can be prevented,
Visibility can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the warning characters having different shapes are displayed in order from the smallest one so that the warning characters can be gradually enlarged at the time of the warning. For example, the size and the size of each of the warning characters are displayed on the acrylic substrate. If the same warning character with different shapes is formed, it looks like it is rolling, and the inside! Various variations can be considered for the movement of the warning character such as blinking only the part. As described above, according to the display device of the present invention, it is possible to make the warning character appear to move or to make a part of the warning character blink, without using a liquid crystal or the like. The warning can be further raised at low cost.

In the above-described embodiment, the warning character is formed by forming the V-shaped groove A on the acrylic substrate by drawing. However, for example, the warning character is formed by a fluorescent paint which emits light by introducing light. A character may be formed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the warning character display for warning that the remaining amount of fuel is low has been described as an example. However, for example, the fact that the seat belt is not used, the side brake is applied, and the like are described. May be a display device that displays a warning character that warns that the warning is given, and the warning content may be anything.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a warning is issued, a plurality of light sources are turned on in a predetermined order, and the light sources corresponding to the respective light sources are correspondingly turned on. The same warning characters of different sizes or shapes formed on the light guide plate can be sequentially displayed, and without using a liquid crystal or the like, for example, by displaying the same warning characters of different shapes in order. Since the warning character can be seen to be moving, or a part of the warning character can be seen to be lit, it is possible to obtain an inexpensive display device capable of further raising a warning.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the warning character formed on the light guide plate corresponding to the light source that is not turned on is not displayed, a display device with improved visibility of a warning is obtained. be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a warning is given, the same warning characters having different sizes are displayed in order from the smaller warning character, so that the warning character is gradually enlarged. Since it is possible to show, the display of the warning character is conspicuous, and it is possible to obtain a display device capable of further raising a warning.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the warning character can be easily formed only by providing the light guide plate itself with a reflection structure such as a diaphragm without adding a separate member such as a fluorescent paint to the light guide plate. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified, and a display device with reduced cost can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a display unit included in the display device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing an example of a movement of a warning character.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU constituting the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a to 10c Acrylic substrate (light guide plate) 10 Display unit 11a to 11c Warning character 12a to 12c LED (light source) 13a CPU (control means) 15 Transmission character plate (colored member)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A display unit in which a plurality of light guide plates each having the same warning character having a different size or shape are formed on a surface on which the warning character is formed, and provided in correspondence with the plurality of light guide plates. A plurality of light sources for introducing light into the corresponding light guide plate and displaying the warning character formed on the light guide plate on the display surface of the display unit; and automatically issuing the plurality of light sources when performing a warning. And a control means for repeatedly turning on the light in a predetermined order. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a coloring member provided on a display surface of the display unit and configured to prevent a warning character from being displayed on a light guide plate corresponding to a non-lighted light source. The display device according to the above. 3. The plurality of light guide plates are formed with the same warning characters having different sizes, respectively, and the control unit controls lighting of the light source so that the smaller warning characters are displayed in order. The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The warning character according to claim 1, wherein the warning character is formed by providing the light guide plate with a reflection structure that reflects light introduced from the light source to a display surface of the display unit. 3. The display device according to any one of 3.