JP2002328048A - Liquid crystal display for car - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display for cars improving visibility of data displayed through monochrome liquid crystal. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display is provided with a plurality of LEDs 64 as a backlight source illuminating a liquid crystal section 63. The LED 64 contains multiple LED elements to obtain an optional backlight color from combination of each LED element's luminous color. The backlight color can be switched depending on contents displayed by the liquid crystal section 63. A backlight color storage section 83 holds the data of backlight color corresponding to car status display. The car status is detected through a car speed or a remaining fuel quantity detected by a status determining section 81, then each backlight color data is read out into a LED driver 67 from the storage section 83 depending on the detected status. The LED driver 67 actuates each LED element of the LED 64 for liquid crystal illumination based on the backlight color data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display for a vehicle, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display for a vehicle suitable for improving the visibility of display information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a display device for displaying vehicle information,
A liquid crystal display device mounted on a vehicle is known. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-118527 discloses a liquid crystal display device that displays various kinds of operation information such as vehicle information such as running speed, navigation information, and VICS information. In this display device, the presence or absence of an abnormality can be easily determined by switching the backlight color between when a display signal necessary for displaying vehicle information and operation information is normal and when there is an abnormality. I have.

[0003]

There is a wide variety of information representing the state of a vehicle. Further, with the development of computer processing technology in recent years, information other than those directly related to the state of the vehicle, such as time information and weather information, is also displayed on a liquid crystal display device mounted on a vehicle. In order to improve the visibility of many pieces of information, color display is preferable. However, the color liquid crystal display device is generally expensive or has a narrow usable temperature range, and thus has a problem that it cannot be widely used especially in general vehicles including small motorcycles. Therefore, it has been desired to use a monochrome (monochromatic) liquid crystal display device so that a large amount of information can be easily displayed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle liquid crystal display device which can improve the visibility of display information while using a monochrome liquid crystal display device in view of the above demand.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal section capable of switching and displaying a plurality of types of information based on an input display information signal. A color light source for illuminating the liquid crystal unit with a backlight, and a backlight color corresponding to display contents in response to switching of display by the display information signal, and the color light source according to the backlight color. The first feature is that a driver for switching the light emission color is provided.

According to the first feature, since the backlight color can be changed in accordance with the switching of the display contents, the display information of the liquid crystal section is monochrome, and the display information can be sufficiently adapted to the usage environment of a motorcycle having a high temperature. The visibility of the display information is improved by the different backlight colors according to the display information.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of the color light sources are provided, a region of the liquid crystal section illuminated by each color light source is predetermined, and the driver displays information displayed in each region. The second feature is that a backlight color corresponding to the above is selected, and the emission color of each of the color light sources is switched according to the backlight color.

According to the second feature, since the backlight color can be changed for each area of the liquid crystal portion, when a plurality of information is simultaneously displayed on the liquid crystal portion, a different backlight color is used for each information. Can be illuminated.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of regions set in the liquid crystal unit and the plurality of color light sources are previously associated with each other, and the output light from the color light source is an associated region of the regions. There is a third feature in that a light guiding means for guiding the light to be irradiated is provided. According to the third feature, the backlight can be illuminated by clearly changing the color for each region set in the liquid crystal unit.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description,
“Front”, “rear”, “up”, and “down” indicate directions viewed from the driver, and front Fr, rear Rr, left L, and right R indicate positions with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a motorcycle equipped with the vehicle display device according to the present invention. A motorcycle 10, which is a scooter type vehicle, includes a body frame 11, a front fork 12 attached to a head pipe 11a of the body frame 11, a front wheel 13 attached to the front fork 12,
A handle 14 connected to the front fork 12, a power unit 15 attached to the rear of the body frame 11 so as to be able to swing up and down, a rear wheel 16 attached to the power unit 15, and a rear cushion unit 17 suspended at the rear end of the power unit 15. A storage box (luggage box) 18 attached to an upper rear portion of the body frame 11,
And a seat 19 that is arranged on the storage box 18 and attached to be openable and closable. The luggage box 18 accommodates a helmet He.

The handle 14 has left and right handle grips 51L and 51R, and left and right brake levers 52L and 51L.
52R, and left and right brake levers 52L, 52R
Brake switch 53L as a switch operated by
53R are provided.

The body frame 11 includes a head pipe 11a.
Die-cast front frame 11F integrally molded with
And the die-cast rear frame 11R
It is connected by X. The power unit 15 includes an engine 21 and a belt converter continuously variable transmission 2 with a centrifugal clutch.
Consists of two. The engine 21 includes a cylinder block 30
7, the cylinder head 308, and the head cover 311;
This is a water-cooled four-stroke engine that is inclined substantially horizontally.

The fuel tank 35 is provided with a refueling cap 35a with a lock, which appears when the refueling lid 91 is opened to the front upper side to allow refueling from there. The fuel tank 35 is provided with a fuel unit 56 having a resistor as a main component for detecting the remaining amount of fuel.

The body frame 11 is covered with a body cover 24. The body cover 24 includes a front cover 28 that covers a front portion of the head pipe 11a, a leg shield 26 that covers a rear portion of the front cover 28 across the head pipe 11a and covers a front portion of a driver's leg, and a step of placing the driver's feet. A floor (low-floor footrest) 27, a pair of left and right floor side covers 28 extending downward from an outer edge of the step floor 27, an under cover 29 covering a lower edge of the floor side covers 28, and a lower portion of the seat 19. It comprises a seat lower cover 31 covering the surrounding front part, a rear cover 32 covering the lower rear part of the seat 19 and the upper part of the rear wheel 16, and a pair of left and right side covers 33.

A main switch 34 is disposed in the leg shield 26, and a fuel tank 35 and a fuel pump 36 are disposed below the step floor 27. Also,
A radiator reserve tank 37, a battery 38, and a control unit 39 are disposed at the rear upper end of the body frame 11. The motorcycle 10 is equipped with a liquid crystal display device 60 that displays a vehicle speed, a remaining fuel amount, a traveling distance, a message for communication with a driver, and the like.

The motorcycle 10 includes an air cleaner 41 provided on the left side of the vehicle body, a carburetor 42, a radiator 43 for cooling the engine provided on the right end of the crankshaft 21a of the engine 21, an exhaust pipe 44 for the engine, and an exhaust pipe provided on the right side of the vehicle body. The muffler 45, the front fender 46 which rotates together with the front fork 12, the rear fender 47, the head lamp 48, the mirror 92, the left and right front blinkers 93L,
93R, front handle cover 94, rear handle cover 94R, horn 95 provided in front cover 25, a pair of left and right engine hangers 96, kick pedal 97 for starting the engine, main stand 98, carrier 99, cylinder block 307, cylinder head 308, head cover 311, intake pipe 312, intake manifold 31
3 are provided.

The engine 21 is provided with a water temperature sensor 54 for detecting the water temperature of the engine 21, and a speed sensor 55 is provided on the rear wheel 16 side of the power transmission mechanism 22. Speed sensor 55 is preferably a hall sensor using a hall element. A stop lamp 57 and left and right rear blinkers 59L and 59R are provided at the rear of the vehicle body, and a lighting circuit unit 58 for lighting the stop lamp 57 is provided at the front of the vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device for a vehicle according to the present invention. The liquid crystal display device 60 has an egg-shaped display portion 61 including a rectangular monochrome liquid crystal portion 63. Due to a synergistic effect with the character display and the anthropomorphic message display described later, the whole has a shape expressing cuteness and closeness. A speed warning LED 65 is provided adjacent to the liquid crystal unit 63.

The liquid crystal display device 60 displays the vehicle speed while the vehicle is running, and displays display information different from the vehicle speed such as a clock display when the vehicle is stopped. Display information can be input and set by left and right brake switches 53L and 53R provided on the left and right brake levers 52L and 52R, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the liquid crystal display device 60. The liquid crystal display device 60 includes a display unit 61 for displaying various information, and a control unit 62 for controlling the display unit 61. The display unit 61 includes a liquid crystal unit 63 that displays various information,
Liquid crystal lighting LEDs 64, 64 for illuminating the liquid crystal unit 63.
And a speed alarm L to be turned on when the speed exceeds a predetermined speed.
ED65. The liquid crystal 63 is driven by a liquid crystal driver 66, and the liquid crystal lighting LED 64 is driven by a liquid crystal lighting LED driver 67. The speed alarm LED 65 is driven by a speed alarm LED driver 68.

The liquid crystal section 63 is for monochrome display, and is illuminated in multi-colors by an illumination color by a liquid crystal illumination LED 64, that is, a backlight color. As the LED 64 for liquid crystal lighting, a plurality of types of LEDs having different emission colors for multicolor lighting
One having an element is provided. Which of the plurality of types of liquid crystal lighting LED elements is driven and which color is illuminated is associated with information displayed on the liquid crystal unit 63 in advance. Therefore, the CPU 7
The switching signal of information input from 1 is LE for liquid crystal lighting
The driving is supplied to the D driver 67 to control the driving of the LED 64 for liquid crystal illumination.

The control section 62 includes a CPU 71 for controlling the liquid crystal driver 66 in response to various information, a clock IC 72 for transmitting a clock pulse to the CPU 71, and a ROM 73 for supplying pre-stored information for display to the CPU 71.
Consists of

The CPU 71 controls the display unit 61 by receiving a supply of a display information signal and a setting input signal from the outside and a supply of a clock backup power supply for backing up the clock IC 72.

Here, the display information signal is a speed pulse signal for recognizing a vehicle speed, one of a fuel resistance signal for recognizing a remaining fuel amount, and the other of a fuel resistance signal, and is idling or idling stop. An idle stop signal for recognizing the abnormal state, and an engine abnormality signal for recognizing the engine abnormality. In addition,
These signals are examples, and are signals that can be variously changed or added depending on information displayed on the liquid crystal display device 60.

The switching signal is generated based on a left brake signal and a right brake signal generated by operating the left and right brake levers 52L and 52R. The CPU 71 supplies an instruction for switching the backlight color to the liquid crystal illumination LED driver 67 according to the switching signal.

That is, the CPU 71 outputs an instruction for selecting a backlight color based on the display information signal, and outputs an instruction for switching the backlight color based on the left brake signal and the right brake signal. For example, when the right brake is turned on / off while the left brake is applied while the vehicle is stopped, the colors can be switched in a predetermined order.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of the liquid crystal display device 60,
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the same. In both figures, the liquid crystal unit 63
There are provided three sets of liquid crystal lighting LEDs 64 on the left and right sides of the display. Each set of liquid crystal lighting LEDs 64 includes a maximum of three LED elements. When a plurality of LED elements are provided, each of them outputs a different emission color,
Each LED element is configured to be individually drivable. Various backlight colors can be obtained by individually driving the LED elements of different emission colors. LED64 for liquid crystal lighting
Is mounted on the substrate 69, and the output light is
4 is used to illuminate the liquid crystal unit 63. L for LCD lighting
Which one of the EDs 64 is driven is determined by the content of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal unit 63.

FIG. 7 is a main flowchart of the display processing in the liquid crystal display device 60. When it is recognized in step S1 that the main switch 34 has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S2, where a display process is performed based on the display information signal. For example, the vehicle speed is detected based on the input speed pulse signal, and information for displaying a number corresponding to the vehicle speed is read from the ROM 73. In step S3, an illumination color (backlight color) corresponding to the displayed information is selected. For example, green is selected when the vehicle speed is lower than the legal speed limit, yellow when the vehicle speed has reached the legal speed limit, and orange when the vehicle speed exceeds the legal speed limit. In step S4, the liquid crystal unit 63 is driven according to the determined display information, and the liquid crystal illumination LED 64 is driven so as to obtain the selected backlight color.

Next, a display example by the liquid crystal display device 60 will be described. In the following display examples, differences in backlight color are represented by differences in shades of black and white for convenience of drawing. FIG.
It is a figure showing the example of a display of vehicle speed. In this display example, the backlight color is switched depending on where the vehicle speed is in the scheduled area. 8 shows a case where the vehicle speed is low (for example, 0
２０20 km / h), and the backlight color is green.
8 shows a case where the vehicle speed is medium (for example, 21 to 30 km / h), and the backlight color is yellow. 8 shows a case where the vehicle speed is high (for example, exceeding a legal speed limit), and the backlight color is orange.

FIG. 9 shows an opening screen, that is, a first display example after the main switch 34 is turned on. In this display example, the backlight color is switched according to the outside air temperature. The left diagram in FIG. 9 shows a case where the outside air temperature is low (for example, 10 ° C. or less), and the backlight color is blue.
The middle part of FIG. 9 shows a case where the outside air temperature is medium (for example, 11 ° C. to 25 ° C.), and the backlight color is green. Further, the right diagram in FIG. 9 shows a case where the outside air temperature is high (for example, 26 ° C. or higher), and the backlight color is orange.

FIG. 10 shows an opening screen in which the backlight color is switched according to the selected animation (design). It is to be noted that the preset symbols appear when the main switch is turned on. The left diagram in FIG. 10 shows a case where a penguin pattern is set, and the backlight color is blue. Also, the middle diagram in FIG.
This is a case where a frog pattern is set, and the backlight color is purple. Further, the right diagram in FIG. 10 shows a case where a star pattern is set, and the backlight color is yellow.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example as a fuel meter. In this display example, the backlight color is switched depending on the remaining fuel level. The left diagram in FIG. 11 shows a case where the fuel is full (full to half of full), and the backlight color is green. The middle part of FIG. 11 shows the case where the fuel is reduced from full to less than that (less than 1/4 of full), and the backlight color is yellow. Further, the right diagram in FIG. 11 shows a case where fuel is needed and refueling is necessary, and the backlight color is orange.

8 to 11 show examples in which the entire surface of the liquid crystal unit 63 is illuminated with the same backlight color. In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal unit 63 is illuminated with a different backlight color for each predetermined area. You may make it.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example in which areas for dividing the liquid crystal section 63 into upper, middle, and lower stages are set, and the backlight colors of the respective areas are different from each other. In FIG. 12, the backlight color is different between the animation (upper) and the mileage display (middle) and the clock display (lower). In the backlight display as shown in FIG. 12, what is turned on may be determined individually for each stage of the liquid crystal lighting LEDs 64 arranged in three stages on both sides of the liquid crystal unit 63. When the backlight color to be turned on for each region is selected as described above, the colors are mixed at the boundary of each region, but there is an effect that gradation can be given.

Although there is an advantage of mixing colors at the boundaries of the above-mentioned regions, there is a case where "clear" color coding is preferred. Therefore, it is desirable to meet such a preference. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of illumination in which the boundaries of regions are clarified. In the left part of the figure, the backlight color is clearly distinguished between the upper region and the lower region of the liquid crystal unit 63. On the other hand, in the right view of FIG. 13, the backlight color is clearly distinguished from the area such as the vehicle speed display shown in the upper left corner area of the liquid crystal unit 63.

In order to clearly distinguish the backlight color for each area, the following method may be used. FIG. 14 shows a liquid crystal unit 63.
And FIG. In the figure, three sets of liquid crystal lighting LEDs 6 are provided on both sides of the liquid crystal unit 63, respectively.
4 are arranged. Each liquid crystal lighting LED 64 and liquid crystal unit 63
The output light of the LED 64 for liquid crystal illumination is
3 is provided. Here, the light guide plate 74 is a liquid crystal lighting LED arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal unit 63.
Rather than being provided in common on one side of 64, the backlight colors are provided individually corresponding to regions where the backlight colors are to be clearly distinguished. In the example of this figure, the light guide plate 74A corresponding to the region 63A at the upper left corner where the refueling warning display is provided is provided independently of the light guide plate 74 corresponding to the other regions. A light shielding means 74B is provided at the boundary.

By displaying the portion corresponding to the boundary in FIG. 13 so as to be painted in a band shape, the bleeding portion of the color of the backlight can be hidden so that each region can be clearly distinguished.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main functions of the backlight color switching control. In the figure, a state determination unit 81 determines the state of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle speed, the amount of remaining fuel, and the like based on the display information signal. Display information storage unit 8
2 stores display information (animation image data and character data representing numbers such as vehicle speed) corresponding to the state signal output from the state determination unit 81. The liquid crystal driver 66 drives the liquid crystal unit 63 according to the display information.

The status signal is also input to the backlight color storage unit 83. The backlight color storage unit 83 stores backlight color data corresponding to the status signal, and inputs the corresponding backlight color data to the liquid crystal illumination LED driver 67 according to the supplied status signal. The liquid crystal lighting LED driver 67 activates each LED element of the corresponding liquid crystal lighting LED 64 according to the backlight color data. For example, when the LED 64 for liquid crystal illumination is composed of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LED elements, the backlight color data is composed of 9 bits, and each LED element is controlled by controlling each bit. The liquid crystal unit 63 can be illuminated with a backlight of any color by mixing the emission colors.

The backlight color storage section 83 can also store backlight color data corresponding to the operation of the brake switch. The brake switch determination unit 84 detects a backlight color switching instruction based on turning on / off of the brake switch, and inputs the detection signal to the backlight color storage unit 83. Backlight color storage unit 8
3 outputs corresponding backlight color data in response to the detection signal. Note that the detection signal from the brake switch determination unit 84 has priority over the state signal, and the backlight color data based on this detection signal is output prior to the backlight color data based on the state signal.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to improve the visibility of each display information by the difference in the backlight color while using the monochrome liquid crystal display means. it can. In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of pieces of information are displayed at the same time, for example, according to the priority of the display information, the information having a high priority can be emphasized with a backlight color that is conspicuous. etc,
Visibility can be further improved. Claim 3
According to the invention, since the backlight light source clearly corresponds to each set area of the liquid crystal unit by the light guide means, color bleeding between the areas is eliminated, and information displayed simultaneously is clarified. Easy to distinguish.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a main part of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a scooter type motorcycle equipped with a liquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of the motorcycle, showing the liquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of the present invention together with its mounting position.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a liquid crystal unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a liquid crystal unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a main part of liquid crystal display control.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a display example (1) of a liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example (part 2) of the liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example (part 3) of the liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example (part 4) of the liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example (5) of the liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display example (part 6) of the liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a main part of a liquid crystal display device according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: motorcycle, 11: body frame, 12: front fork, 13: front wheel, 14: steering wheel,
15 Power unit 15, 16 Rear wheel 60 Liquid crystal display device 63 Liquid crystal unit 64 Liquid crystal illumination LE
D, 66: LCD driver, 67: LED for liquid crystal lighting
Driver: 69: substrate: 71: CPU: 74: light guide plate: 81: state determination unit: 82: display information storage unit:
83 ... Backlight color storage unit

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Rika Mizuta 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama F-term in Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H091 FA45Z FD24 GA11 LA15 MA03 3D044 BA14 BA21 BA26 BA27 BB00 BD02 BD13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal unit capable of switching and displaying a plurality of types of information based on an input display information signal, comprising: a color light source for back-lighting the liquid crystal unit; A driver that selects a backlight color corresponding to display content in response to display switching by the display information signal, and switches the emission color of the color light source according to the backlight color. Liquid crystal display device. 2. A color light source, comprising: a plurality of color light sources;
The area of the liquid crystal unit to be illuminated by each color light source is predetermined, and the driver selects a backlight color corresponding to information displayed in each area, and the color light source according to the backlight color. 2. The liquid crystal display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the emission color is switched. 3. A plurality of regions set in the liquid crystal unit;
A light guide means for associating the plurality of color light sources with each other in advance and guiding the output light from the color light source to irradiate the corresponding one of the regions. Item 3. A vehicle liquid crystal display device according to item 2. 4. The color light source is constituted by a plurality of light emitting elements having different emission colors from each other, and the emission color of the color light source is determined by energizing / deactivating each light emitting element. The liquid crystal display device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.