JP2006213272A - Vehicular speedometer, and combination meter having the speedometer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a speedometer having good visibility which is capable of transmitting the running speed, set speed, and automatic cruise state to a driver. <P>SOLUTION: In the vehicular speedometer 10, the running speed of the vehicle is displayed by indicating the display design 18 provided on a dial by a turning indicator 14. The dial has a movable part 12 which is formed in an annular shape, and turnable therearound. The display design 18 is provided on the movable part 12 of the dial. In a regular traveling mode, the movable part 12 of the dial is fixed, the indicator 14 is turned and indicates a part corresponding to the running speed of the display design 18 of the movable part 12 to display the running speed of the vehicle. In an automatic cruise mode, the indicator 14 is fixed, and the movable part 12 of the dial is turned and the part corresponding to the running speed of the display design 18 of the movable part 12 is arranged at the position of indication of the indicator 14 to display the running speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle speedometer that displays a traveling speed of a vehicle by instructing a display design provided on a dial by a rotating pointer, and a combination meter including the speedometer.

  In recent years, vehicles such as automobiles have been accelerated and decelerated automatically without a driver's accelerator / brake operation, and the vehicle has been running at a constant speed to keep the running speed constant or at a certain distance between vehicles. An auto-cruise system that performs a follow-up driving to follow a car has been installed.

  For example, in constant speed driving, the driver operates the setting switch during normal driving when the vehicle is accelerated or decelerated by the driver's accelerator / brake operation. The auto-cruise system compares the set speed with the running speed and automatically controls the throttle and brakes of the engine to keep the running speed at the set speed. ing.

  In such an auto-cruise system, in order to transmit the travel speed, the set speed, and the auto-cruise state to the driver, a speedometer that displays the travel speed is provided with a lamp that indicates the set speed or the auto-cruise state. A device provided with a display device for displaying is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In addition, there is also known one in which two coaxial hands are provided on a speedometer that displays a traveling speed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  As shown in FIG. 7, a speedometer 81 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is incorporated in a combination meter 80, a travel speed display scale 82 arranged in an arc shape, and a pointer 83 that indicates the scale 82. And a display device 84. The display device 84 is provided with a display lamp 85 indicating that the vehicle is in a constant speed traveling state by the auto cruise system, a display unit 86 for displaying a set speed, and the like. In accordance with the traveling speed, the indicator 83 indicates an appropriate position on the scale 82 and the traveling speed is displayed. At the time of constant speed traveling by the auto cruise system, the display lamp 85 of the display device 84 is turned on, and the display unit The set speed is displayed at 86.

The speedometer 91 disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a travel speed display scale 92 arranged in an arc shape, and two coaxial hands 93 a and 93 b that indicate the scale 92. During normal travel, as shown in FIG. 8A, the travel speed is displayed by instructing the location corresponding to the travel speed of the scale 92 by rotating together with the two hands 93a and 93b overlapping. Is done. On the other hand, at the time of constant speed traveling by the auto cruise system, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the pointer 93b is fixed in a state indicating the position corresponding to the set speed of the scale 92, and the set speed is displayed. The travel speed is displayed by 93a rotating independently of the pointer 93b and indicating a location corresponding to the travel speed of the scale 92.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-274217 (page 8, FIG. 3) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-334523 (pages 4 to 5 and FIG. 3)

  However, the speedometer 81 disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a dedicated display device 84 for displaying a set speed or a lamp indicating that the vehicle is in a constant speed traveling state by an auto cruise system, which increases the cost. Concerned.

  In the speedometer 91 disclosed in Patent Document 2, the auto cruise system is based on a positional deviation between a fixed setting speed display pointer 93b and a pointer 93a of a traveling speed display table that rotates independently of the pointer 93b. It is possible to visually recognize that the vehicle is in a constant speed traveling state, but there is little speed fluctuation during constant speed traveling by the auto-cruise system, that is, the swing width of the indicator 93a for traveling speed display is relatively small. Since the amount of positional deviation between the hands 93a and 93b is small, it cannot be said that the visibility of the constant speed running state by the auto-cruise system is sufficient, and either hand indicates the running speed or the set speed. There was a possibility that it could not be determined instantaneously.

  Further, the auto cruise system is generally used for traveling in a high speed range where the traveling speed is about 60 to 100 km / h, but in recent years, it is also used in a low speed range where the traveling speed is, for example, 30 km / h or less. It has become like this. Under these circumstances, the scale for displaying the traveling speed in the low speed range is generally located in the lower area of the speedometer, so the pointer always remains on the speedometer when driving at a constant speed in the low speed range with the auto cruise system. The lower region is indicated, and the amount of line-of-sight movement from the front to the indicated position of the pointer becomes relatively large, which increases the driver's load and may reduce visibility.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a speedometer excellent in visibility for transmitting a traveling speed, a set speed, and an auto cruise state to a driver at a low cost. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) and (2).

(1) A vehicle speedometer for displaying a traveling speed of a vehicle by instructing a display design provided on the dial by a rotating pointer, wherein the dial is formed in an annular shape and its center There is a movable part that can rotate around, and the display design is provided on the movable part of the dial. During normal travel, the movable part of the dial is fixed, and the pointer rotates. The travel speed of the vehicle is displayed by instructing the location corresponding to the travel speed of the display design of the movable part. During auto-cruising, the pointer is fixed, and the movable part of the dial rotates to move the movable part. The travel speed is displayed by arranging a position corresponding to the travel speed of the display design at the indicated position of the pointer.
(2) In the vehicle speedometer described in (1), the pointer is fixed vertically upward during auto-cruising.

  According to the vehicle speedometer described in (1) above, the display form of the traveling speed is different between the normal traveling and the autocruising, thereby improving the visibility of the autocruising state. it can. In addition, since the speed fluctuation is small during constant speed traveling by the auto cruise system, the set speed can be generally known from the displayed travel speed, and a dedicated display device for displaying the set speed and the auto cruise state is provided. It is not necessary to provide the speedometer, thereby reducing the cost of the speedometer.

  According to the vehicular fuel gauge described in (2) above, the pointer is fixed in a state of being directed vertically upward during auto-cruising and indicates the upper area of the speedometer. The amount of line-of-sight movement to the position can be reduced, thereby reducing the driver's load and improving visibility.

  The combination meter according to the present invention is characterized by the following (3).

  (3) The vehicle speedometer according to (1) or (2) is provided.

  According to the vehicle display device of the present invention, the visibility of the speedometer for transmitting the traveling speed, the set speed, and the auto-cruise state to the driver can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the speedometer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the speedometer shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining the operation of the speedometer shown in FIG. 1 during auto-cruising, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the combination meter incorporating the speedometer shown in FIG.

  The speedometer 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called analog type speedometer that displays the traveling speed of the vehicle by instructing a display design provided on the dial by a rotating pointer. Thus, it is incorporated in a combination meter 40 equipped in a vehicle such as an automobile.

  The combination meter 40 is provided with a plurality of instruments for displaying various information relating to the state of the vehicle such as traveling speed, engine speed, fuel remaining amount, cooling water temperature, etc. A speedometer 10 for displaying the running speed is provided at the position, and a tachometer 41 for displaying the engine speed is provided at a position to the right of the central portion. For example, the remaining amount of fuel is displayed on the left side of the speedometer 10. A fuel gauge 42 is provided, and a water temperature gauge 43 for displaying the coolant temperature is provided on the right side of the tachometer 41. The combination meter may be provided with a multi-display for displaying various warnings.

  Such a combination meter 40 has a speedometer 10, a tachometer 41, a fuel on the front side of a dial provided with a display design serving as an indicator such as traveling speed, engine speed, fuel remaining amount, cooling water temperature, and the like. A facing member that divides the dial is arranged corresponding to the total 42, the water temperature gauge 43, etc., and a transparent cover is mounted on the front side of the facing member, while the dial is supported on the back side of the dial. In this case, a liquid crystal display device constituting a multi-display, a light source such as an LED for illuminating the dial from the back side, a speedometer 10, a tachometer 41, a fuel gauge 42, and a water temperature gauge 43 And a wiring board provided with a control circuit for controlling the liquid crystal display device, the illumination means, the driving device, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the speedometer 10 has a circular fixing portion that is supported and fixed to the frame 28 of the case 15 in the area of the dial divided in a circular shape by the decorative preparation ring 32 of the facing member 13. 11 and an annular movable portion 12 which is arranged concentrically with the fixed portion 11 on the outer diameter side of the fixed portion 11 and is rotatable around the center thereof. 11 has a pointer 14 that is driven by a driving device 20 accommodated in the case 15 to rotate around the center of the fixed portion 11.

  The movable portion 12 of the dial has a flat plate-like flange portion 17 that is flush with the fixed portion 11 and a cylindrical portion 16 that is erected on the case 15 side from the inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 17. As a whole, it is formed in an annular shape having an L-shaped cross section.

  The cylindrical portion 16 of the movable portion 12 is a circle defined between a frame 28 of the case 15 that supports and fixes the dial fixing portion 11 and a frame 29 provided on the outer diameter side of the frame 28. The movable part 12 is supported in the case 15 so as to be rotatable by interposing a rolling element between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 16 and the inner peripheral surface of the frame 29, for example. Is done.

  On the flange portion 17 of the movable portion 12, “0”, “20”, “40”, “60”, “80”, “100”, “120”, “140”, The characters “160” and “180” are arranged in an arc shape. The flange portion 17 excluding the display design 18 portion or the display design 18 portion has light transmission, and receives light from the light source 27 arranged on the back surface side, and shines in the illumination color of the light source 27. It is like that. Further, teeth 25 that mesh with a gear 24 of a drive mechanism 21 to be described later are provided on the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 17, and the movable portion 12 is driven to rotate by the drive mechanism 21.

  The drive mechanism 21 includes a drive device 22 housed in the case 15, a first gear 23 connected to the rotation shaft of the drive device 22, and a first gear 23 that is pivotally supported by the case 15 and meshes with the first gear 23. 2 gears 24. The first gear 23 and the second gear 24 constitute a speed reduction mechanism having a predetermined speed reduction ratio, and the driving unit 22 drives the movable portion 12 of the dial via this speed reduction mechanism. Note that the drive mechanism 21 is covered by the shielding portion 31 of the turning member 13.

  As the driving device 20 that drives the driving device 22 and the pointer 14, for example, a stepping motor or the like that can control the rotation angle in both forward and reverse directions can be used. Further, for example, a DC motor or the like that does not have a rotation angle control function can be used. In this case, a rotation angle sensor such as an encoder is used to detect the rotation angle of an arbitrary rotation element (movable unit 12, gears 23, 24, etc.), and the rotation angle is controlled based on the sensor output.

  Next, the operation of the speedometer 10 configured as described above will be described by taking constant speed traveling by an auto cruise system as an example.

  First, during normal running, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable part 12 of the dial is fixed with the character “0” of the display design 18 positioned in the lower region of the speedometer 10. The driving device 20 drives the pointer 14 in response to the output from the control circuit provided on the wiring board of the combination meter 40 according to the travel speed of the vehicle, and thereby the pointer 14 rotates to rotate the dial. A location corresponding to the traveling speed of the display design 18 provided on the movable portion 12 is indicated, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is displayed.

  When transitioning from normal traveling to constant speed traveling by the auto cruise system, the traveling speed of the vehicle when transitioning to constant speed traveling is set as the set speed. Then, upon receiving the output from the control circuit provided on the wiring board of the combination meter 40, the driving device 20 drives the pointer 14, and as shown in FIG. 3, the pointer 14 rotates until it points vertically upward. It is fixed in that state. At the same time, in response to the output from the control circuit provided on the wiring board of the combination meter 40, the driving device 22 drives the movable part 12 of the dial, whereby the movable part 12 rotates and the display design 18 travels. A location corresponding to the speed is arranged at the indicated position of the pointer 14, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is displayed.

  When driving at a constant speed using the auto-cruise system, the auto-cruise system compares the set speed with the running speed, and the engine throttle and brake are automatically controlled to keep the running speed at the set speed. When a slight speed fluctuation occurs, the drive unit 22 receives the output from the control circuit provided on the wiring board of the combination meter 40 in accordance with the detected traveling speed of the vehicle. 12 is driven, the movable part 12 is rotated, and a position corresponding to the traveling speed of the display design 18 is arranged at the indicated position of the pointer 14, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is displayed as needed.

  During constant speed traveling by the auto-cruise system, the light source 27 is turned on, and the flange portion 17 excluding the light-transmitting display design 18 portion or the display design 18 portion receives light from the light source 27 to receive the light source. It shines in 27 illumination colors.

  According to the speedometer 10 of the present embodiment, during normal travel, the pointer 14 rotates to indicate a location corresponding to the travel speed of the display design 18 provided on the movable portion 12 of the fixed dial. On the other hand, during the auto cruise, the movable portion 12 of the dial rotates and the display design 18 provided on the movable portion 12 travels at the indicated position of the fixed pointer 14. The traveling speed is displayed by arranging the places corresponding to the speed. As described above, the display form of the traveling speed is different between the normal traveling and the auto-cruising, and thereby the visibility of the auto-cruising state can be enhanced. In addition, since the speed fluctuation is small during constant speed traveling by the auto cruise system, the set speed can be generally known from the displayed travel speed, and a dedicated display device for displaying the set speed and the auto cruise state is provided. There is no need to provide the speedometer 10, thereby reducing the cost of the speedometer 10.

  At the time of auto-cruising, the pointer 14 is fixed in a vertically upward state and indicates the upper area of the speedometer 10. Therefore, the amount of line-of-sight movement from the front to the indicated position of the pointer 14 is reduced. As a result, the burden on the driver can be reduced and the visibility can be improved.

  Further, during auto-cruising, the light source 27 is turned on, and the flange portion 17 excluding the light-transmitting display design 18 or the display design 18 receives light from the light source 27 and changes the illumination color of the light source 27. As a result, the change in the display form of the traveling speed during normal traveling and during autocruising becomes more prominent, and the visibility of the autocruising state can be enhanced.

Next, a modified example of the speedometer 10 described above will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a combination meter in which a modification of the speedometer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the speedometer 10 ′ of the present modified example is provided with a display design of, for example, a fuel gauge 52 and a water temperature gauge 53 on the front surface of the fixed portion 11 of the dial, and the fuel meter on the front side of the fixed portion 11. 52 and a pointer for instructing the display design of the water temperature meter 53, and a drive device for driving the pointer of the fuel meter 52 and the water temperature meter 53 are provided on the back side of the fixed portion 11, and the functions of the fuel meter and the water temperature meter are incorporated in the speedometer. It is a so-called chronograph speedometer. According to this, the space required for displaying the traveling speed, the remaining amount of fuel, and the cooling water temperature can be reduced, and the space of the combination meter 50 in which the speedometer 10 ′ is incorporated can be used effectively. In the combination meter 50 shown in FIG. 6, other meters 55 and 56 are also incorporated in the tachometer 51, and a multi-display 54 is provided in the surplus space of the combination meter 50 generated thereby.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably.

It is a front view of one embodiment of a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a front view for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of normal driving | running | working of the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a front view for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of the auto cruise of the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a front view of the combination meter incorporating the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a front view of the combination meter which concerns on the modification of the speedometer shown in FIG. 1, and the said speedometer was integrated. (A) is a front view of a combination meter in which the speedometer is incorporated, (b) is an enlarged view of a main part of the speedometer shown in FIG. It is a schematic front view of the speedometer shown to a). In relation to another conventional speedometer, (a) is a perspective view and a front view during normal running, and (b) is a perspective view and a front view during auto-cruising.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Speedometer 11 Dial fixed part 12 Dial movable part 14 Pointer 18 Display design 40 Combination meter

Claims (3)

A vehicle speedometer that displays a traveling speed of a vehicle by instructing a display design provided on a dial by a rotating pointer,
The dial has a movable part formed in an annular shape and rotatable around its center,
The display design is provided on the movable part of the dial,
During normal travel, the movable part of the dial is fixed, and the travel speed of the vehicle is displayed by indicating the location corresponding to the travel speed of the display design of the movable part by turning the pointer.
At the time of auto-cruising, the travel speed is displayed by fixing the pointer and moving the dial by moving the dial so that the position corresponding to the travel speed of the display design of the movable section is arranged at the indicated position of the pointer. A vehicle speedometer.   The vehicular speedometer according to claim 1, wherein, during auto-cruising, the pointer is fixed vertically upward.   A combination meter comprising the vehicular fuel gauge according to claim 1.

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