JP2001306330A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide reduce manufacturing cost by reducing the burden to be required for software development, and to enhance the reliability of display control. SOLUTION: A display unit 1 is compose of a display ECU 2, an LCD panel 3, a touch switch group 4 on the LCD panel 3 and an operation panel 5 arranged around the LCD panel 3. The display ECU 2 is composed of a main processing part 6 for controlling plotting operation and a switch control part 7 for input/ output processing of an operation signal from the touch switch group 4 and the operation panel 5. A common program regarding all vehicle types to be mounted and intrinsic programs for each vehicle type are stored in a main microcomputer in the main processing part 6 as a control program and vehicle type codes to indicate the vehicle type to be mounted are stored other than the program for input/output processing of the operation signal in a switch microcomputer in the switch control part 7. The main microcomputer validates the intrinsic program corresponding to the vehicle code based on the vehicle code from the switch microcomputer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle display device for selectively displaying various types of information relating to vehicle load control using the same display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent automobile, for example, a road map screen or a menu screen by a car navigation device, an operation screen of an air conditioner or an audio device, a vehicle maintenance information, or the like is selected on a display arranged on an instrument panel. A multi-vision type display device capable of performing a display corresponding to the display information by operating a touch switch formed on the screen and displaying the information on the screen has been used. In such a display device, conventionally, a control program stored in a built-in microcomputer has been configured to perform an input / output process of an operation signal from a screen selection operation switch and an operation signal from the touch switch and a drawing process of a display screen. I have.

[0003]

Generally, in a motor vehicle, there is a difference (a higher-grade vehicle model has more functions) according to a vehicle model (a concept including a grade) in a set function. For this reason, in the display device having the conventional configuration, it is necessary to prepare a microcomputer storing a different control program for each type of the vehicle to be mounted. More specifically, in the case of an air conditioner, for example, a rear air conditioner is installed depending on the type of a vehicle. Therefore, a microcomputer storing a control program capable of displaying information relating to the rear air conditioner in addition to information relating to the front air conditioner. Need to be prepared separately. In addition, since there are various other types of air conditioners, such as the presence or absence of a dual function that can set the temperature of the driver's seat and the passenger's seat independently, and the presence or absence of an air purifying function, control programs corresponding to these are stored. You have to prepare many kinds of microcomputers. Also,
In audio equipment and car navigation equipment,
Normally, the sound display function, the map information display function, and the like are different for each vehicle type, and there are similar circumstances.

In the case of preparing various types of microcomputers as described above, it becomes necessary to individually check all types of control programs stored in each microcomputer, which increases the burden for software development. This causes a rise in manufacturing costs. Further, since the total capacity of the programs to be prepared becomes enormous, there is a possibility that the reliability of the quality of the installed software, that is, the reliability of the display control may be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the load required for software development, to reduce the manufacturing cost, and to improve the reliability of display control. To provide a vehicle display device.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to achieve the above object, the control program stored in the display control circuit is constituted by a common program having common contents for all vehicle models to be mounted and a unique program group having specific contents for each vehicle model. The program corresponding to the vehicle type code indicating the vehicle type to be mounted in the program group is validated. According to this configuration, most of the control program can be shared by the common program, so that the capacity of the control program itself is larger than that of the conventional configuration, but there is no need to prepare a different program for each type of vehicle to be mounted. Therefore, the total capacity of the programs to be prepared is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Therefore, only one type of control program needs to be inspected, the burden for software development can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In addition, if the reliability of the common program is high, it is only necessary to inspect the specific program that is a difference when responding to a new vehicle type, so the reliability of the quality of the installed software, that is, the reliability of display control, Will also improve.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, only the built-in program of the input control circuit, which is different for each type of vehicle to be mounted, needs to be inspected, so that the burden on software development can be reduced. become.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a board on which a display control circuit is mounted can be made a common component, cost reduction due to mass production effect can be promoted. Further, it is possible to easily cope with a plurality of types of vehicles simply by replacing a board on which the input control circuit is mounted.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 schematically shows an electrical configuration of a portion related to the gist of the present invention in a load control system of an automobile by combining functional blocks. In FIG. 3, a display unit 1 (corresponding to a vehicle display device) is installed on an instrument panel of an automobile, for example, and is connected to a display ECU 2 connected to a LAN in the vehicle, and an LCD panel 3 (display) capable of color display. ), A touch switch group 4 formed on the LCD panel 3, and an operation panel 5 arranged around the LCD panel 3. The display ECU 2 has a configuration in which a main processing unit 6 for controlling a drawing operation of the LCD panel 3 and a switch control unit 7 for performing input / output processing of an operation signal from the operation panel 5 are connected to each other. .

The in-vehicle LAN includes a navigation E
CU 8, air conditioner ECU 9, audio ECU 10, TV tuner 11 with TV antenna 11a, CD
Changer 12 (concept including DVD changer)
In addition to the above, an engine control ECU (not shown), a body E
A CU or the like is connected.

The navigation ECU 8 is a position detection unit 8 having a GPS receiver, a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor, a distance sensor (all not shown), and the like.
a, a GPS antenna 8b, and a main processing unit 8c. The main processing unit 8c stores map data of a CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM) set in the CD changer 12, and outputs from the position detection unit 8a. A well-known navigation process is performed based on. Further, the main processing unit 8c transmits an information signal from an optical / radio wave beacon or F
VICS for receiving information signals by M multiplex broadcasting
(Registered trademark) ECU 13 so that VICS information obtained from the ECU 13 can be reflected in the navigation processing.

The air conditioner ECU 9 is connected to an air conditioner unit including a sensor unit for detecting the temperature of the vehicle interior and the amount of solar radiation in the vehicle interior, and a compressor. Control is performed.

The audio ECU 10 includes an audio head unit 10a and an audio amplifier 10b. The audio head unit 10a performs demodulation processing of a signal received through a radio antenna 10c, an audio signal from a television tuner 11, and a CD changer 112. The audio signal from the set music CD is converted into an analog signal, and the audio amplifier 10b is configured to amplify the signal from the audio head unit 10a and supply the amplified signal to the speaker 14.

In this case, some types of automobiles are not equipped with a navigation function, a television broadcast receiving function, or the like, and thus the related hardware configuration is omitted. Furthermore, various variations are set for the navigation function, audio function, air conditioner function, etc. depending on the type of the target vehicle, and other functions, such as Internet access and display functions, as necessary. Is also set.

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C schematically show the front appearance of the display unit 1 for three types of configuration examples. In FIG. 1, the display unit 1
Has a configuration in which the LCD panel 3 and the rectangular frame-shaped operation panel 5 are arranged on the front surface of a rectangular main body case 15 containing the main processing unit 6 and the switch control unit 7. In addition, a plurality of operation switches 16a to 16j corresponding to the type of vehicle to be mounted are selectively disposed. Here, for convenience of explanation, FIG.
Each of the display units 1 in (b) and (c) is for a vehicle type A, a vehicle type B, and a vehicle type C, and each operation switch group is constituted by, for example, the following switches. .

<Vehicle type A (FIG. 1A)> A "current location" switch 16a and a "menu" which are operated when a map screen and a menu screen for a navigation function are displayed on the LCD panel 3, respectively.
Switch 16b, "air conditioner" switch 16 operated when displaying a screen for an air conditioner function on LCD panel 3
c, an "audio" switch 16d operated to display a screen for an audio function on the LCD panel 3; operated to display a television reception screen and a screen for channel selection on the LCD panel 3 "T
"V" switch 16e, an "information" switch 16f operated when displaying vehicle maintenance information, FM multiplex broadcast information, and the like on the LCD panel 3, for switching the image quality of the LCD panel 3 and switching to a screen off state. An "image quality / off" switch 16g to be operated, a "temperature" switch 16h for raising and lowering a set temperature when the air conditioner function is operating, a front defogger switch 16i and a rear defogger switch 16j of a vehicle.

<Vehicle type B (FIG. 1B)> The "air conditioner" switch 16c, the "audio" switch 16d, the "information" switch 16f, the "picture quality / off" switch 16g, the "temperature" switch 16h, The front defogger switch 16i and the rear defogger switch 16j.

<Model C (FIG. 1C)> The "air conditioner" switch 16c, the "audio" switch 16d, the "picture quality / off" switch 16g, and the "temperature" switch 16h.

On the other hand, as shown in a schematic plan view in FIG. 2, the main processing section 6 of the display ECU 2 is mounted on a drawing board 17,
The display operation by the D panel 3 is controlled by the operation switches
The main microcomputer 18 (corresponding to a display control circuit) for controlling based on j and operation signals from the touch switch group 4 and a control program stored in advance is provided. The switch control unit 7 of the display ECU 2 is mounted on a switch board 19, which is a switch microcomputer 20 (an input device) for processing operation signals from the operation switches 16a to 16j and the touch switch group 4. (Corresponding to a control circuit and signal generation means). The microcomputers 18 and 20 are connected to each other via a dedicated communication line 21.

In this case, the drawing board 17 on which the main microcomputer 18 and the main processing unit 6 including the main microcomputer 18 are mounted is shared for each type of vehicle to be mounted. And a unique program for each vehicle type are stored as control programs. The switch microcomputer 20 and the switch board 19 on which the switch control unit 7 including the same is mounted are prepared differently for each type of vehicle to be mounted.
In addition to programs for input / output processing of operation signals,
A vehicle type code indicating the vehicle type to be mounted is stored.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 schematically show portions related to the gist of the present invention in the contents of control by the main microcomputer 18, which will be described below. FIG.
Indicates the contents of control when the power is turned on (for example, when the ACC circuit of the car is turned on). In response to the turning on of the power, a vehicle type code acquisition process S1 for reading out a vehicle type code from the switch microcomputer 20, an LCD panel After sequentially executing the initial screen display processing S2 for displaying a predetermined standby screen on the screen 3, a trigger input (in the case of this embodiment, operation of the operation switches 16a to 16j, or a touch activated in the standby screen) The operation waits until there is an operation of the switch group 4 (step S3). Then, when there is a trigger input, the process shifts to a main processing routine S4 to execute a control process according to the trigger input.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of control when a trigger input corresponding to the operation of the air conditioner switch 16c is made in the main processing routine S4. In FIG. 5, when the air conditioner switch 16c is operated, it is determined which of the vehicle types A, B, and C the vehicle type code acquired in the vehicle type code acquisition process S1 indicates (steps S11, S12, and S13). ). If the vehicle type code corresponds to vehicle type A, the LCD
After executing step S14 of drawing the operation screen for the vehicle type A on the panel 3, the process proceeds to the next process.

In this case, for example, if the air conditioner for the vehicle type A has a rear air conditioner and a dual function capable of independently setting the temperature of the driver's seat and the passenger's seat, the drawing step In S14, FIG.
The operation screen as shown in is drawn. Specifically, FIG.
In the operation screen of (a), an icon 22 for selecting whether to enable or disable the dual function of the front air conditioner.
a, front air conditioner operation / stop icon 22b,
A group of icons 22c for selecting a blowing mode, a group of icons 22d for selecting an air volume, a group 22e of icons for operating the rear air conditioner and switching the air volume are displayed, and the touch switch group 4 (see FIG. 3) corresponding to each of the icons 22a to 22e is activated. Is done.

On the other hand, in each case where the vehicle type code corresponds to the vehicle type B and the vehicle type C, step S15 of drawing an operation screen for the vehicle type B on the LCD panel 3 or vehicle type C on the LCD panel 3 After the execution of step S16 for drawing an operation screen for use, the process proceeds to the next process.

In this case, if the air conditioner for the vehicle type B has, for example, a dual air conditioner without a rear air conditioner, in the drawing step S15, FIG.
An operation screen as shown in (b) is drawn. In particular,
In the operation screen of FIG. 6B, an icon 2 for selecting whether to enable or disable the dual function of the front air conditioner
2a, front air conditioner operation / stop icon 22
b, a blowing mode selection icon 22c group and an air volume selection icon 22d group are displayed.
Are activated. Also,
If the air conditioner for the vehicle type C has no rear air conditioner and does not have a dual function, for example, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 6C is drawn in the drawing step S16. Specifically, on the operation screen of FIG. 6C, the operation / stop icons 22b of the front air conditioner, the group of icons 22c for selecting the blowing mode, and the icon 22 for selecting the air volume are displayed.
The d group is displayed, and the touch switch group 4 corresponding to each of the icons 22c to 22d is activated.

In short, in this embodiment described above,
The display ECU 2 for controlling the display operation and the switch input / output processing by the display unit 1, the main processing unit 6 for controlling the drawing operation of the LCD panel 3, and the input / output processing of the operation signal from the touch switch group 4 are performed. A common program having contents common to all types of vehicles to be mounted and unique contents for each type of vehicle to a main microcomputer 18 provided in the main processing section 6 In addition to storing a control program constituted by a group of programs, a switch microcomputer 20 provided in the switch control unit 7 is provided with a program for input / output processing of an operation signal and a vehicle type to be mounted. The main microcomputer 18 stores the vehicle type code shown in FIG. The program corresponding to the vehicle type code from those which is adapted to activate.

According to this configuration, most of the control program can be shared by the common program. Therefore, although the capacity of the control program itself is larger than that of the conventional configuration, a different program is prepared for each type of vehicle to be mounted. This eliminates the necessity, and the total capacity of programs to be prepared is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional configuration. Therefore, only one type of control program needs to be inspected, the burden for software development can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, if the reliability of the common program is high, it is only necessary to inspect only the specific program that is a difference when corresponding to a new vehicle type.
The reliability of the quality of the installed software, that is, the reliability of the display control is also improved.

Furthermore, if the reliability of the common program is high as described above, only the built-in program of the switch microcomputer 20 that is different for each type of vehicle to be mounted need be inspected. The burden on software development can be further reduced. Furthermore, since the drawing board 17 on which the main processing section 6 is mounted and the switch board 19 on which the switch control section 7 is mounted are provided independently, the drawing board 17 can be made a common component, and the mass production effect is improved. Cost reduction can be promoted. Further, it is possible to easily cope with a plurality of vehicle types simply by replacing the switch board 19.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications or extensions are possible. The types and functions of the operation switches provided on the operation panel 5 are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be added or changed as needed. Although the drawing board 6 is configured to be shared for each vehicle type, the intended purpose can be achieved if at least the main microcomputer 18 is shared.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a display unit showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a main microcomputer and a switch microcomputer.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a load control system in an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a main microcomputer, part 1

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a main microcomputer, part 2

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a display unit (vehicle display device), 2 is a display ECU, 3 is an LCD panel (display), 4 is a touch switch group, 5 is an operation panel, 6 is a main processing unit, 7 is a switch control unit, and 8 is a switch control unit. A navigation ECU, 9 is an air conditioner ECU, 10 is an audio ECU, 16a to 16j are operation switches, 17 is a drawing board, 18 is a main microcomputer (display control circuit), 19 is a switch board, and 20 is a switch microcomputer (input control circuit, signal Generating means).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display for displaying various information including information related to operation of a vehicle load, an operation switch for switching display contents of the display, and display information on a screen of the display. And a display control circuit for controlling a display operation by the display based on an operation signal from the operation switch and the touch switch group and a control program stored in advance. A display device for a vehicle, comprising: a signal generation unit configured to generate a vehicle type code indicating a vehicle type to be mounted, wherein the display control circuit is common to all vehicle types to be mounted as the control program. A common program of contents and a unique program group of unique contents for each vehicle type are stored and configured, and a vehicle type code from the signal generating means is stored. Based vehicle display device, characterized in that to enable the specific program corresponding to the vehicle type code. 2. The signal generating means comprises an input control circuit for processing at least an operation signal from the operation switch based on a built-in program, and the input control circuit is provided separately from the display control circuit. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is provided. 3. The vehicle display device according to claim 2, wherein a board on which the display control circuit is mounted and a board on which the input control circuit is mounted are provided independently.