JP2008074326A - Lighting control device for vehicular instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting control device for a vehicular instrument panel making a driver intuitively grasp the state of a vehicle by using the lighting of an instrument panel including various kinds of meters. <P>SOLUTION: A vertical wall 14 covered with a main hood 13 arranged over continuous three meters 1 is indirectly lighted by red and blue LEDs 14R and 14L in the right and left. In the normal operation of the vehicle, the right and the left blue LEDs 14R and 14L are lighted, and immediately after normally starting an engine and during an idle stop, the blue LEDs included in right and left indirect lighting LEDs 16R and 16L are blinked to change luminance in a slow cycle. During a manual shift mode, the red LED is intermittently lighted. When a door of the vehicle is opened or not closed properly, the red LED on the opened door side is intermittently blinked in a relatively short cycle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination control device for an instrument panel.

  The instrument panel is equipped with warning lights that warn of abnormalities in engine coolant temperature and oil temperature. Moreover, instead of a buzzer, Patent Document 1 repeatedly increases or decreases the brightness of a light bulb that illuminates a meter at night in order to warn of excessive speed when driving at a speed exceeding the speed limit on an expressway. Has proposed.

  By the way, Patent Document 2 is composed of LEDs that emit three primary colors of red, green, and blue, such as meters, switch panels for air conditioner control, foot lighting, and inside door handle lighting. Then, it has been proposed to adjust the mixed color of these three colors of LEDs according to the passenger's preference.

  As LEDs that emit three primary colors of red, green, and blue have become widespread in this way, not only the flexibility of the colors of various lights installed in the passenger compartment has increased dramatically, but they have also been arranged on instrument panels. The degree of freedom of display colors is increasing in the lighting of various meter display panels and pointers.

  Recent vehicles not only display abnormalities such as engine coolant temperature and warnings such as half-doors on the instrument panel, but also display the results of various fault diagnosis by computers. As a result, the number of items displayed on the instrument panel is increasing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-152941 JP 2003-072463 A

  Even if there are many items displayed on the instrument panel, it is meaningful for vehicle safety and accident prevention, but on the other hand, the displayed items are There is a problem that it is difficult to intuitively understand whether it is related to (status).

  An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting control device for an instrument panel for a vehicle that allows a driver to intuitively grasp the state of the vehicle by using lighting of an instrument panel including various meters. is there.

According to the present invention, the above technical problem is
A plurality of color illumination means provided on an instrument panel including various meters,
Control means for controlling the illumination means;
Luminance pattern storage means for storing a plurality of different luminance patterns of the illumination means;
A predetermined brightness pattern is selected from the brightness pattern storage means according to a predetermined state of the vehicle, and the illumination means is controlled by combining the selected brightness pattern and the color of the illumination means. This is achieved by providing a lighting control device for a instrument panel.

  That is, according to the present invention, the driver can intuitively recognize various vehicle states by sensuously appealing to the driver's eyes with the combination of the color of the illumination means and the luminance pattern.

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the luminance pattern has a first luminance pattern for continuously lighting the illumination means and a blinking pattern for intermittently blinking the illumination means. The blinking pattern includes a second luminance pattern that blinks in a short cycle, and a third luminance pattern that repeats gradually becoming brighter and then gradually getting darker in a cycle larger than the second luminance pattern. The illumination means includes at least a red illumination means and a blue illumination means, and a red illumination means and a blue illumination means can be selected. The blue illumination means is preferably used when the vehicle is in a normal state, whereas the red illumination means is used to alert the driver or issue a warning.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a part of an instrument panel of an automobile equipped with an automatic transmission (AT). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a triple meter, and the triple meter 1 is provided with a tachometer 2 on the left side, a speedometer 3 on the center, and a multi-display meter 4 on the right side as viewed from the driver side. The multi-display meter 4 is provided with an engine coolant temperature gauge 5, an engine oil thermometer 6, and a warning light group 7. The warning light group 7 includes indicator lights such as a shortage of the battery charge amount and an inability to start the engine. The multi display meter 4, the tachometer 2 or the speedometer 3 may be provided with a liquid crystal display unit, and the liquid crystal display unit may be used to display the outside temperature and various warnings.

  The triple meter 1 includes substantially cylindrical instrument hoods 10, 11, and 12 that independently surround the meters 2, 3, and 4, and is a region in the vicinity of the three instrument hoods 10 to 12. An upper portion of the vertical wall 14 between the main hood 13 and the triple meter 1 is covered by a main hood 13 that covers the upper portions of the instrument hoods 10 to 12 in an arch shape. Here, the three meters 2 to 4 have the largest diameter at the speedometer 3 located at the center, and the left and right meters 2 and 4 have the same size, but are smaller than the speedometer 3. Thereby, the vertical wall 14 located in the upper area of the three meters 2 to 4 can be divided into the left portion 14L and the right portion 14R with the speedometer 3 interposed therebetween.

  The triple meter 1 is composed of an analog meter, and if it is a tachometer 2, a scale 2b arranged along the outer peripheral portion of the circular display board 2a and a pointer 2c indicating the scale 2b are provided. And the pointer 2c rotates to indicate the current engine speed. The same applies to the speedometer 3, which has a scale 3b and a pointer 3c arranged along the outer peripheral portion of the circular display board 3a. The same applies to the engine coolant temperature gauge 5 and the engine oil thermometer 6, and has scales 5 a and 6 a arranged in a fan shape on the circular display board 4 a of the multi-display meter 4, and hands 5 b and 6 b.

  The triple meter 1 has illumination means (not shown) such as a lamp or LED arranged on the back side of each display board 2a, 3a, 4a. By passing through the 4 scales 2b, 3b, 5a and 6a, the scales 2b, 3b and 5a are raised regardless of day and night. Illuminating means (not shown) is provided for floating the pointers 2c, 3c, 5b, 6b.

  The main hood 13 is provided with a left LED 16L that indirectly illuminates the left portion 14L of the vertical wall and a left LED 16R that indirectly illuminates the right portion 14R of the vertical wall. The left and right LEDs 16L and 16R are respectively composed of a red LED and a blue LED. By changing the emission color of the left and right LEDs 16L and 16R and changing the luminance of the light, for example, flashing of light emission Depending on the presence / absence and the length of the flashing cycle, the driver is sensibly appealed to the driver for various vehicle conditions. Of course, the LEDs of different colors constituting each of the left and right LEDs 16L and 16R are not limited to red and blue, and may be three or more colors.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating luminance patterns of the left and right LEDs 16L and 16R. The uppermost first luminance pattern in FIG. 2 shows an example in which the ON state is continued when an event occurs in the vehicle state. The second luminance pattern shows an example in which ON and OFF are switched in a relatively short cycle. The third luminance pattern shows an example of repeating from OFF to ON and from ON to OFF with a sin curve having a long wavelength so that a person breathes, for example. By properly using the first to third luminance patterns, three states can be displayed.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16 </ b> L and 16 </ b> R installed on the main hood 13. The left and right indirect lighting LEDs 16L and 16R described above are controlled by the control means 20, and for this control, the control means 20 includes an ignition switch 21, an engine speed sensor 22, a brake switch 23, and a manual mode selection switch 24 for the automatic transmission. The door opening / closing switch 25 and the accelerator switch 26 are input, and a predetermined luminance pattern is selected from the storage means 27 storing the plurality of luminance patterns described above according to the state of the vehicle, and the color of the LED 16, that is, red LED or blue Control of the indirect illumination LED 16 is executed in combination with proper use of the LED.

  In other words, the vehicle is provided with an automatic transmission. In the control of the automatic transmission, the automatic transmission mode for changing the speed according to the driving state of the vehicle without depending on the shift operation of the driver, and the shift operation of the driver. When the driver selects the manual shift mode, an ON signal is input to the control means 20 from the AT manual mode selection SW25. In addition, this vehicle includes an idle stop mechanism that stops the operation of the engine when the vehicle stops, for example, with a red light.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a control example of the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16L and 16R. In the control example illustrated in FIG. 4, when the vehicle is in a normal state, a predetermined event is completed or the predetermined event is continued using a blue LED, and the state of the vehicle requires attention. Or when it is necessary to urge the warning, the display is performed using the red LED.

  Of the three luminance patterns, the first luminance pattern in which the LED 16 is continuously lit indicates that the vehicle is in a normal state when the blue LED is lit and indicates to the driver when the red LED is lit. It is used to indicate that the user is in a state of alerting just in case. The second luminance pattern that repeats ON and OFF in a relatively short cycle is used to issue an alarm to the driver by using a red LED.

  Of the three types of luminance patterns, the first luminance pattern in which the LED 16 is continuously lit indicates that the vehicle is in a normal state when the blue LED is lit, and the driver is reminded when the red LED is lit. It is used to display that the user is in a state of calling attention. By using the red LED for the second luminance pattern that repeats ON and OFF in a relatively short cycle, the driver can intuitively recognize that the vehicle is in a state of issuing some warning by seeing this.

  The remaining luminance pattern repeats a change in luminance that gradually becomes brighter and then gradually darkens with a slow sine curve. For example, the luminance of the LED 16 is adjusted with the same rhythm as when humans relaxed. By making the vehicle brighter or darker, it is displayed that the vehicle is resting, so that the driver can intuitively recognize that the vehicle is resting by looking at this change in brightness. it can.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 2, when the ignition is turned on and the vehicle is in a normal state, the blue LEDs included in the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16L and 16R are turned on and the red LEDs are turned off (blue diagram). 2 first luminance pattern). As a result, the left and right vertical wall portions 14L and 14R surrounded by the main hood 13 are indirectly illuminated in blue.

  Further, immediately after the engine is started normally or during idle stop, the blue LEDs included in the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16L and 16R are blinked so that the luminance changes in a slow cycle for a predetermined time ( Blue and the third luminance pattern of FIG. 2).

  When the driver sets the manual shift mode by operating the shift lever of the automatic transmission while the vehicle is running, the vehicle will select the gear position according to the driver's shift operation. When the driver switches to the automatic transmission mode, the red LEDs included in the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16L and 16R are continuously lit (red and the first luminance pattern in FIG. 2). The red LED is turned off and the blue LED is turned on instead.

  Further, when the door of the vehicle is open or half door, the red LED of the LED 16L or 16R on the side where the door is located blinks intermittently in a relatively cycle (one of the left and right lights blue) The other red color is the second luminance pattern in FIG. For example, when the passenger seat side door located on the left side is a half door, the left side portion 14L of the vertical wall 14 is indirectly illuminated with red in a relatively short cycle. At this time, the right side portion 14R of the vertical wall 14 is preferably indirectly illuminated with a blue LED that is continuously turned on.

  Regarding the lighting of the red LEDs included in the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16, for example, when the engine speed is higher than a predetermined speed, that is, when the engine is in an overspeed operation state, the left and right indirect illumination LEDs 16L. , 16R blinks in a relatively short cycle (second luminance pattern in FIG. 2), and switches to indirect illumination with blue LEDs when the over-rotation state ends.

  According to the above embodiment, the LED 16 that illuminates the LED 16 is illuminated by using the vertical wall 14 that extends from side to side and up and down, surrounded by the arched main hood 13 located above the triple meter 1 to which the driver pays attention. Since various states are displayed according to the lighting state or the blinking state, the driver can intuitively recognize the information of the various states based on the color change or the blinking state. Further, by utilizing the fact that the vertical wall 14 surrounded by the arch-shaped main hood 13 is substantially divided into left and right by the triple meter 1, the left portion 14L and the right portion 14R are indirectly illuminated independently. Thus, it is possible to warn of a half door of a door that needs to be distinguished from right and left.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, For example, the following modifications are included.

(1) For example, when the engine speed is excessive or when the manual shift mode is selected, the scales 2b and 3b and the hands 2c and 3c of the tachometer 2 and the speedometer 3 may be blinked. Two colors of lamps or LEDs for illuminating these may be prepared, for example, normally displayed in white, and switched to red display or red flashing display when the engine speed is excessive. .

(2) Similarly, when the engine cooling water temperature or the engine oil temperature rises abnormally, the tachometer 2 or the speedometer 3 scales 2b and 3b and the pointers 2c and 3c may be displayed blinking. Prepare two colors of lamps or LEDs to illuminate, for example, normally white display, when the engine cooling water temperature or engine oil temperature rises abnormally, switch to red display or switch to red flashing display It may be.

It is a front view of the triple meter contained in the instrument panel of an Example, and its vicinity. It is a figure which illustrates the luminance pattern of the indirect illumination of the vertical wall covered with the arch-shaped main hood which covers a triple meter. It is a block diagram for performing the control of the luminance pattern of an Example. It is a contrast table for demonstrating various luminance patterns and the meaning of each luminance pattern.

Explanation of symbols

1 Triple meter 2 Tachometer 2a Tachometer display panel 2b Tachometer scale 2c Tachometer pointer 3 Speedometer 3a Speedometer display panel 3b Speedometer scale 3c Speedometer pointer 10 Tachometer hood (instrument hood)
11 Speedometer hood (instrument hood)
12 Multi display hood (instrument hood)
13 Arched main hood 14 Vertical wall 14L Left side part of vertical wall 14R Right side part of vertical wall 16 Indirect lighting LED
16L Left LED
16R Right LED
20 control means 27 storage means

Claims (7)

A plurality of color illumination means provided on an instrument panel including various meters,
Control means for controlling the illumination means;
Luminance pattern storage means for storing a plurality of different luminance patterns of the illumination means;
A predetermined brightness pattern is selected from the brightness pattern storage means according to a predetermined state of the vehicle, and the illumination means is controlled by combining the selected brightness pattern and the color of the illumination means. Lighting control device for instrument panels.   The instrument panel illumination control device according to claim 1, wherein the luminance pattern includes a first luminance pattern for continuously lighting the illumination unit and a blinking pattern for blinking the illumination unit intermittently.   The flashing pattern includes: a second luminance pattern that flashes in a short cycle; and a third luminance pattern that repeats gradually brightening and then gradually darkening in a cycle larger than the second luminance pattern. An illumination control device for an instrument panel as described.   The instrument panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the illumination unit includes at least a red illumination unit and a blue illumination unit, and the red illumination unit and the blue illumination unit are selectable. Lighting control device.   The illumination control device for an instrument panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one luminance pattern is selected from the plurality of luminance patterns according to a state of the vehicle.   The illumination control device for an instrument panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a color of the illumination means is selected depending on whether or not the vehicle is in a normal state. The illumination means includes blue illumination means and red illumination means;
When the vehicle is in a normal state, the blue illumination means is selected, and when the vehicle is in a state of alerting the driver or issuing a warning, the red illumination means is selected.
The plurality of luminance patterns include a first luminance pattern for continuously lighting the illuminating means, a second luminance pattern for intermittently blinking the illuminating means in a predetermined cycle, and the illuminating means being ON with a SIN curve, A third luminance pattern that repeats OFF,
In a normal state, the first luminance pattern is selected and the blue illumination means is turned on. When the engine is normally started, the third luminance pattern is selected and the blue illumination means is blinked, and the engine The illumination control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the number of rotations is excessive, the second luminance pattern is selected and the red illumination unit blinks in a predetermined cycle.

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