JP2006304541A - Vehicle information input/output device for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle information input/output device for an electric vehicle which has excellent functions besides a display function. <P>SOLUTION: Various kinds of information on the vehicle are displayed by lighting of an indicator lamp 18. The indicator lamp 18 is constituted so that it may light up separately and independently from the original display function, and the device shifts to a maintenance mode different from a running mode by a switching operation used in the running mode, then the vehicle information is displayed by the indicator lamp 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle information input / output device in a small electric vehicle for use by an elderly person or a handicapped person.

  This type of small electric vehicle is classified as a “hand-operated steering wheelchair” and is extremely useful as a substitute for the elderly. In the basic configuration of such a small electric vehicle, an electric motor, a battery, and the like are mounted on a vehicle body frame on which wheels and a seat on which a driver sits are attached. And a wheel is driven by an electric motor.

  Further, for example, a floor for a passenger to put his / her foot on is provided in front of the seat at the rear of the vehicle body, and a steering shaft for steering the front wheels is further provided in front of the floor. A steering wheel is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft, and the driver sits on the seat and operates the steering wheel.

  By the way, when a problem occurs in the vehicle or when a warning is given to the user, this is dealt with by buzzing a buzzer or blinking a fuel level indicator lamp. However, it is practically difficult to express the details in detail, and there is a problem that, for example, it is not possible to accurately discriminate them depending on the tone and number of times of the buzzer.

  Alternatively, when the cutting angle of the handle detected by using a sensor at the time of manufacture is matched with the actual cutting angle of the handle, it is performed visually or an assembling jig is used. However, the accuracy is poor visually and the like, and it is extremely inconvenient for electrically fine control.

  Furthermore, when performing maintenance management / adjustment of the vehicle, etc., the parameters stored in the device and the maintenance information are simply viewed to express the maintenance information, or have a digital display for detailed viewing, or other jigs A method such as viewing using is used.

  With respect to these problems, for example, in the small electric vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the use history, failure history, etc. of the vehicle can be managed by combining lighting, extinguishing or blinking of a plurality of indicators.

JP 2000-92604 A

  However, the vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above merely displays the failure location and usage history, and has no further functions. Further, since the data is displayed in order at the time of display, data that does not require confirmation is displayed before the data to be confirmed is displayed. When the display contents cannot be grasped, there is annoyance that must be displayed again from the beginning.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle having an excellent function in addition to a display function.

  A vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention is an information input / output device capable of displaying various information related to a vehicle by lighting a display lamp, and the display lamp is independent from an original display function. The vehicle information can be displayed by the display lamp by shifting to a maintenance mode different from the travel mode by a switch operation used in the travel mode.

  Further, in the vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the electrical unit of the vehicle is connected to the control unit via the communication bus, and the parameter related to the communication bus can be set by the switch operation in the maintenance mode. It is characterized by that.

In the vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the vehicle is configured to steer a steered wheel with a steering wheel, and has a steering adjustment menu in the maintenance mode.

  According to the present invention, the display lamp can be turned on independently from the original display function (turn display or battery remaining amount display), and a large number of codes can be displayed. Maintenance information and the like can be obtained quickly and accurately by encoding and displaying binary numbers using an existing lamp or the like.

  In addition, a special display device, a jig for obtaining maintenance information and the like are not required, and maintenance management or vehicle operation setting can be effectively and effectively performed without complicating the configuration. As a result, maintenance costs and the like can be substantially reduced in actual use, and work can be performed efficiently.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. First, the overall configuration of the small electric vehicle according to the present embodiment will be described. In the small electric vehicle 100, a pair of left and right front wheels 102 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 103 are supported on a body frame 101 via a suspension. The body frame 101 is covered with a resin cover including a front cover 104, a leg shield 105, a floor 106, a rear cover 107, and the like except for a part thereof.

  A substantially box-shaped or box-shaped rear cover 107 protrudes upward at the rear of the vehicle body, and a drive motor 108 and a drive motor 108 for driving the left and right rear wheels 103 on the inner side of the rear cover 107. A gear unit 110 (see FIG. 3) that transmits the output of the engine to the axle 109, a battery 111, and the like are housed. Each drive motor 108 is driven and controlled by the control unit 112.

  A seat 114 on which a passenger sits is mounted on the upper side of the rear cover 107 via a bracket 113 that rises from the body frame 101 in a gate shape, for example. The seat 114 includes a seat cushion 115 and a seat back (back) 116, and is supported on the rear cover 107 so as to be pivotable in the horizontal direction. The turning angle is set to 45 degrees and 90 degrees, for example, from the vehicle body center to the left and right, and can be appropriately turned by operating the operation levers 117 attached to both side portions of the seat cushion 113.

  Further, armrests 118 are provided on both sides of the seat back 116, and each armrest 118 is supported so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum 119. Each side of each armrest 118 may be provided with a winker.

  The leg shield 105 protrudes upward at the front of the vehicle body and protects the legs of the occupant seated on the seat 114 from being exposed to wind and the like. A steering shaft 120 for steering the front wheels 102 is erected inside the leg shield 105, and a handle unit 121 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the driver sits on the seat 114 and operates the handle unit 121. In addition, a pair of left and right rearview mirrors 122 are supported at appropriate positions of the handle unit 121 via a stay 123.

  A storage box or carrier case 124 is mounted on the front surface of the leg shield 105, and the carrier case 124 can be used as a container as appropriate. A headlight is attached at a suitable position below the carrier case 124.

  In actual use of the small electric vehicle 100, the driver seated on the seat 114 holds the handle of the handle unit 121 as shown in FIG. 1, or lightly puts his hand and operates the accelerator lever attached to the handle. Can drive the vehicle. At that time, the speed is controlled by speeding up or slowing down by appropriately adjusting the amount of pressing of the accelerator lever.

  Here, a system configuration of the small electric vehicle 100 will be schematically described. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive motor 108, the battery 111, and the control unit 112 are connected to each other via a power / power line 125, and the drive motor 108 passes through the control unit 112 by the power supplied from the battery 111. Driven. The charger 126 is also connected to the control unit 112 and can charge the battery 111 as necessary. Further, the charger 126, the optional device 127, the operation / display device 10 described later, and the like are connected to each other and the control unit 112 via the communication line 128, so that each unit of the electrical equipment can communicate. ing.

  As optional devices, there are, for example, a seat reclining controller, a power steering controller, an additional operation device, a system diagnostic device, a maintenance controller, and the like, and these can be connected in any number.

  FIG. 5 shows an arrangement configuration example of the operation / display device 10 according to the present invention. The operation / display device 10 is configured to perform various operations and displays necessary for traveling in the normal traveling mode. That is, in this embodiment, the operation / display device 10 is arranged on the handle unit 121 described above. In this example, the operation / display device 10 includes a key switch 11, a forward / reverse selector switch 12, a speed adjustment dial 13, a horn switch 14, and left and right turn signal switches 15R and 15L. The display unit 16 includes display lamps 17R and 17L for displaying the left and right turns and a display lamp 18 for displaying the remaining battery level. During normal driving, the driver can drive these vehicles by operating these switches.

  The device according to the present invention is configured so that the display lamps 17R, 17L or 18 can be lit independently of the original display function (turn display or battery remaining amount display) and operated by operating switches used in the travel mode. The mode is shifted to a maintenance mode different from the mode, and the vehicle information can be displayed by the display lamps 17R, 17L, 18 and the like. In addition to the information display, parameters related to the communication bus can be set by operating the switch in the maintenance mode.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a display unit and an operation unit in this embodiment. In the above-described maintenance mode, for example, the 4-lamp type display lamp 18 is used for binary number display in the display unit, and the displayed binary number corresponds to a menu number or the like as will be described later. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, binary numbers are displayed corresponding to the light emission states (modes) of the LEDs constituting the display lamp 18.

  The display lamps 17R and 17L are used to display the number of mode steps. In the operation unit, the turn signal switch 15R functions as a selection plus (+) button, and when the button is pressed, for example, the binary number of the display lamp 18 is counted up. The turn signal switch 15L functions as a selection minus (−) button, and the binary number of the display lamp 18 is counted down by pressing the button. The horn switch 14 functions as a decision button and decides the selected binary number. Furthermore, the handle unit 121 is equipped with an accelerator lever 129 for controlling the speed of the vehicle. The accelerator lever 129 functions as a cancel button.

  In the above case, a function such as selection or determination is executed by operating a switch, and at that time, a buzzer is sounded simultaneously. That is, when the operator operates, the user is also audibly alerted so that the operation can be performed accurately. The basic buzzer sound is set as shown in Table 1 below, for example.

  Next, Table 2 shows an example of the menu displayed by the binary display of the display lamp 18 in the present embodiment.

  Next, Table 3 shows an example of items adjusted by the basic operation parameter adjustment in the present embodiment.

  Next, Table 4 shows an example of items adjusted by the option parameter adjustment in the present embodiment.

  An example of the operation method in the maintenance mode by the apparatus of the present invention will be described. 8 to 13 show a method for operating the menu selected in the maintenance mode. First, when shifting to the maintenance mode in FIG. 8, the switch is turned on while the horn switch 14 is being pressed, and the maintenance mode is activated. The buzzer sound at this time is “Pee ···” (5 seconds). When the buzzer sound stops, the turn signal 15R is pressed, and the menu NO to be selected is displayed in binary. For example, if the error history is displayed, the menu No. Since it is 1, the LED of the display lamp 18 is lit as “□□□ ■”. The horn switch 14 is pressed to determine, and at this time a buzzer sound “beep” sounds.

  In the error history display, the latest error is displayed. In this case, the error code is displayed in binary. For example, the switch box is unit NO. 1 or the main controller is unit NO. The unit number is assigned to each unit as 2 etc., and the number is output as a code when the LED of the display lamp 18 is turned on. As a result, the unit in which the error has occurred can be easily identified. Further, in this case, the previous (old) error history can be displayed for each pressing operation of the turn signal switch 15L, while one new error history can be displayed for each pressing operation of the turn signal switch 15R.

  In this way, the latest error is displayed, and the past error can be grasped as necessary, so that the failure location can be identified quickly and easily, and maintenance can be performed efficiently.

  Next, FIG. 9 shows an operation method in the basic operation parameter adjustment. For basic operation parameter adjustment, refer to Menu No. 5, the turn signal switch 15 (15R, 15L) is appropriately operated, and the menu No. 5 is displayed in binary. In the basic operation parameter adjustment, items as shown in Table 3 are included. First, the item NO to be selected is displayed in binary and determined.

  For example, when adjusting the parameter of the maximum forward speed, item No. 5 is displayed as a binary number, and the horn switch 14 is pressed to set the item No. 5 is determined. Furthermore, if it is desired to suppress the maximum speed, the parameter set in the range “1-10” as the initial value 10 is set to “1-8” or “1-7”, and the horn switch 14 is pressed to set the value. To decide. The changed parameters are stored, and the drive motor 108 is driven and controlled by the control unit 112 so as to travel at the maximum speed after the change. In this way, an input operation for changing parameters can be performed as necessary.

  In the above case, even the parameters once set or changed can be canceled. That is, in this case, the set parameters can be canceled by pressing the accelerator lever 129 in the reverse operation order.

  In the maintenance mode, various menus as shown in Table 2 can be selected. In either case, each item in each menu can be set or changed by operating the horn switch 14 or the turn signal switch 15 while displaying the binary number on the display lamp 18. As another menu, for example, FIG. 6 shows the operation procedure of the option parameter adjustment in FIG. The steering center adjustment operation procedure of FIG. 10 shows the operation procedure for deleting the error history. 12 shows an all-initialization operation procedure.

  Here, for example, particularly in steering center adjustment, the steering angle and the direction of the tire (front wheel 102) can be easily and accurately aligned. In this case, the steering angle (the steering position detected by the sensor) is displayed on the display lamp 18, and the tire orientation is adjusted to match the displayed angle. Typically, when the steering angle is 0, the LED of the indicator lamp 18 is lit as “□ ■■ □” indicating the center, and at this time, the tire direction is set to the straight traveling direction so that the two are aligned. be able to. On the other hand, the tire is set in a predetermined direction (for example, a straight traveling direction) in advance, and the LED of the display lamp 18 is turned on so that the corresponding display content (for example, “□ ■■ □”) is obtained.

  Next, FIG. 14 shows a small electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Note that members that are substantially the same as or correspond to those in the above-described embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals as appropriate. In this example, in the electric wheelchair as the small electric vehicle 100, a pair of left and right front wheels 102 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 103 are supported by the body frame 101. Further, substantially in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, each of the left and right rear wheels 103 has a drive motor for driving it, a gear unit for transmitting the output of the drive motor to the axle, a battery, etc. The drive is controlled by the control unit.

  In this example, a vehicle travel control operation box 20 is provided at the front end of the right armrest 118, and this operation box 20 functions as an operation / display device. As shown in FIG. 15, the operation box 20 is provided with a main switch 21, a speed changeover switch 22, and an operation knob 23 for operating forward / backward, left / right turning, etc. A display lamp 25 (5 lamp type in this example) for displaying the quantity is arranged.

  Also in this embodiment, the vehicle information can be displayed by the display lamp 25 by shifting to the maintenance mode different from the traveling mode mainly by the operation of the operation knob 23. Then, the display unit 24 displays a binary number in a manner corresponding to the menu number as shown in FIG. 16A, and executes each menu selected in the maintenance mode, as in the embodiment described above. It has come to be able to do.

  For example, when adjusting the steering angle and the tire direction in the steering center adjustment, the steering angle is displayed on the display lamp 25 as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the center of the steering can be adjusted easily and accurately by matching the direction of the tire with the displayed angle.

  As described above, in the device of the present invention, the display lamps 17R, 17L or 18 can be turned on independently from the original display function (turn display or battery remaining amount display), and a large number of codes can be displayed. Became. Maintenance information and the like can be obtained quickly and accurately by encoding and displaying binary numbers using an existing lamp or the like.

  In this case, a special display device, a jig for obtaining maintenance information, and the like are not required, and maintenance management or vehicle operation settings can be effectively and effectively performed without complicating the configuration. As a result, maintenance costs and the like can be substantially reduced in actual use, and work can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, it is possible to accurately grasp the status of the electrical unit in any part of the vehicle and display the contents on the display unit. Since detailed information for each unit is displayed at once on the display unit, accurate and fine maintenance is realized.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited only to these embodiment, A change etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in this embodiment, an example of a small electric vehicle has been described. However, the present embodiment can also be effectively applied to a diag code display or a maintenance / management card for other devices that perform electrical control. The same effect can be obtained.

1 is a side view of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning structure of the operation / display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the display part and operation part in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the light emission state of LED which comprises the display lamp which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in the error log display in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in basic operation parameter adjustment in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in the option parameter adjustment in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in steering center adjustment in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in the error log | history deletion in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation method in the all initialization in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the small electric vehicle in another embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the operation box in another embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the light emission state of LED which comprises the display lamp in another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation / display apparatus, 11 Key switch, 12 Forward / backward changeover switch, 13 Speed adjustment dial, 14 Horn switch, 15 Turn signal switch, 16 Display part, 17 Display lamp, 18 Display lamp, 100 Small electric vehicle, 101 Car body Frame, 102 Front wheel, 103 Rear wheel, 104 Front cover, 105 Leg shield, 106 Floor, 107 Rear cover, 108 Drive motor, 109 Axle, 110 Gear unit, 111 Battery, 112 Control unit, 114 Seat, 115 Seat cushion, 116 seat back, 118 armrest, 120 steering shaft, 122 rearview mirror, 124 carrier case.

Claims (3)

An information input / output device capable of displaying various information related to a vehicle by turning on a display lamp,
The display lamp is configured to be able to light independently from the original display function, and a switch operation used in the travel mode shifts to a maintenance mode different from the travel mode, and vehicle information is displayed by the display lamp. A vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle characterized by being made possible.   The vehicle of the electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an electrical unit of the vehicle is connected to a control unit via a communication bus, and a parameter related to the communication bus can be set by the switch operation in the maintenance mode. Information input / output device.   3. The vehicle information input / output device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is configured to steer a steered wheel with a steering wheel and has a steering adjustment menu in the maintenance mode. 4.

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