JP2009041987A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vehicle capable of changing partially brightness of an image drawn on a meter. <P>SOLUTION: This display device for the vehicle includes a graphic control part 30 (drawing means) for drawing images 11-18 showing a vehicle state on the meter 10, a ROM 22 (storage means) of a meter control part 20 for storing a polygon constituting the images 11-18 and a texture corresponding to the polygon, a meter ECU 21 (meter control means) for allowing the graphic control part 30 to generate the images 11-18 by using the polygon and the texture stored in the ROM 22, and an operation part 40 (brightness value setting means) for setting the polygon at a prescribed brightness value. The graphic control part 30 reads the polygon and the texture from the ROM 22 corresponding to a control command of the meter ECU 21, adds the brightness value set by the operation part 40, synthesizes the polygon having the brightness value added thereto with the texture, and draws the synthesized image on the meter 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device, and more particularly to a vehicle display device in which an image is drawn on a meter.

In general, for example, a display device described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In the display device described in Patent Document 1, the visibility of the display screen corresponding to the change in the lighting environment is evaluated using the visibility, and according to the comparison result between the evaluation result and the measured value of the screen luminance. The backlight power supply unit is controlled to adjust the brightness of the display screen.
JP 7-44111 A

  However, in the display device described in Patent Document 1, since the brightness of the display screen is adjusted by variable control of the brightness of the backlight, the brightness of the display screen can be changed as a whole. There has been a problem that it is difficult to partially change the luminance of the display screen. This problem also occurs in the vehicular display device that draws an image representing the vehicle state on a meter.

  The subject of this invention is providing the display apparatus for vehicles which can change partially the brightness | luminance of the image drawn on a meter.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to solve the above problems, a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a drawing unit that draws an image representing a vehicle state on a meter, a polygon that forms the image representing the vehicle state, and a texture corresponding to the polygon. Storage means for storing; meter control means for causing the drawing means to create the image using polygons and textures stored in the storage means; and brightness value setting means for setting the polygon to a predetermined brightness value The drawing means reads polygons and textures from the storage means in accordance with a control command from the meter control means, takes into account the brightness value set by the brightness value setting means, and takes the brightness value into account. The polygon and the texture are synthesized, and the synthesized image is drawn on the meter. In this case, the brightness value setting means is drawn on the meter, for example, with the overall brightness changing means capable of uniformly changing the brightness value of the entire polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter to an arbitrary value. It is preferable to provide individual luminance changing means capable of changing only the luminance value of a specific polygon among the polygons constituting the image to an arbitrary value.

  In this vehicular display device, the luminance value set by the luminance value setting means is taken into consideration, the drawing means adds the polygon with the luminance value added to the texture, and the resultant image is drawn on the meter.

  Therefore, the luminance value of the image drawn on the meter can be changed by synthesizing the polygon and the texture set to the predetermined luminance value. Therefore, for example, when the brightness value of the entire polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter is uniformly changed to an arbitrary value, the brightness value of the entire image drawn on the meter can be changed. When only the brightness value of a specific polygon among the polygons constituting the image drawn on the meter is changed to an arbitrary value, it is possible to change only the brightness value of the specific image drawn on the meter. .

  In carrying out the present invention, the image representing the vehicle state is configured to include a speedometer and a plurality of indicators, and brightness values of polygons constituting the speedometer and the predetermined indicator are larger than a predetermined value in advance. It is also possible to set to.

  According to this, only the brightness value of the specific image, that is, the speedometer and the predetermined indicator among the images representing the vehicle state is set in advance. For this reason, it is possible to highlight the specific image to the driver for visual recognition, and it is possible to improve convenience during driving.

  In carrying out the present invention, the vehicular display device further includes luminance detection means for detecting luminance around the meter, and the meter control means is configured to detect the luminance according to the luminance detected by the luminance detection means. It is also possible to change the luminance values of the polygons constituting the image drawn on the meter.

  According to this, the luminance value of the polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter is automatically changed according to the luminance around the meter. For this reason, it is possible to improve the visibility of a meter, without making a driver | operator take trouble of operation.

a. First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vehicular display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicular display device includes a meter 10 and a meter control unit 20 connected to the meter 10 via a graphic control unit 30. And an operation unit 40 connected to the meter control unit 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the meter 10 includes a display device (for example, a color LCD using TFT and a backlight), and includes a speedometer 11, a tachometer 12, a fuel remaining amount display meter 13, and a water temperature display meter 14. Od / trip meter 15, shift position 16, indicator 17 (for example, rear light warning, engine check warning, seat belt warning, high beam warning, door warning, brake warning, exhaust sound warning, oil warning, charge warning, turn direction), etc. An image representing the vehicle state is displayed. In addition, the meter 10 displays various setting mode images 18 for changing the setting of the driving state of the vehicle such as the driving mode of the vehicle, for example, according to the operation of the operation unit 40, and for example, an opening image when the ignition is turned on. (Animation screen for production) is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the meter control unit 20 includes a meter ECU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23. The meter ECU 21 (meter control means) has a microcomputer composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output circuit and the like as main components, and an image display program (not shown) stored in the ROM 22 when the ignition switch is turned on, The luminance value setting program 3 is repeatedly executed every predetermined short time, and the graphics control unit 30 is controlled to be drawn in accordance with the execution. Moreover, meter ECU21 acquires data required for meter display from the various control apparatuses 51 connected, for example via in-vehicle LAN. These data are necessary for creating the images 11 to 17 representing the vehicle state. For example, the vehicle speed, the engine speed, the remaining fuel amount, the engine water temperature, the travel distance, the shift position position, and the light control switch on / off. Turn switch on / off.

  The ROM 22 (storage means) is composed of, for example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory. In addition to an image display program and a brightness value setting program for executing various processes performed by the meter ECU 21, the vehicle Data representing various polygons corresponding to the images 11 to 17 representing the state, various setting mode images 18 and the like, and data representing the texture corresponding to each polygon (texel data) are stored. Specifically, the ROM 22 stores vertex coordinate values, vertex color values RGB (each value is expressed by a numerical value of 0 to 255, for example), luminance value, texture, texel coordinate value, and the like of each polygon. .

  A work memory is formed in the RAM 23, and the image display program and the brightness value setting program operate with the work memory as a work area.

  The graphic control unit 30 (drawing means) includes a graphic controller 31 and a video memory 32. The graphic controller 31 is composed of an IC, for example, and synthesizes a polygon read from the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 into the video memory 32 and a texture corresponding to the polygon in accordance with a control command of the meter ECU 21. The composite image data is written into the video memory 32, converted into a display signal for drawing, and drawn on the meter 10.

  The video memory 32 is constituted by, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory, and reads necessary polygons and textures from the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 in accordance with a control command from the meter ECU 21.

  The operation unit 40 (luminance value setting means) is disposed in the vicinity of the meter 10, for example, and includes an overall luminance change switch 41, an individual luminance change switch 42, an image selection switch 43, and a mode selection switch 44.

  The overall brightness change switch 41 (overall brightness change means) is, for example, a knob type switch, and the brightness values (dimming value, density value, gradation) of the entire polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter 10 by its rotation operation. Value) can be uniformly changed to an arbitrary value. Specifically, for example, if the entire luminance change switch 41 is rotated clockwise, the luminance value of the entire polygon is continuously increased (brighter), and if rotated counterclockwise, the luminance value of the entire polygon is increased. It is set to be continuously low (dark).

  The individual brightness change switch 42 (individual brightness change means) is, for example, a knob type switch, and only the brightness value of a specific polygon among the polygons constituting the image drawn on the meter 10 by the rotation operation is set to an arbitrary value. Can be changed. Specifically, for example, if the individual luminance change switch 42 is rotated clockwise, only the luminance value of the specific polygon is continuously increased (lightened), and if the individual luminance change switch 42 is rotated counterclockwise, the specific polygon is changed. Only the luminance value is set to be continuously low (dark).

  The image selection switch 43 (individual luminance changing means) is, for example, a push button type switch, and can individually select polygons constituting an image whose luminance value is desired to be changed by the pushing operation.

  The mode selection switch 44 is, for example, a push button type switch, and an arbitrary setting mode image 18 can be selected by the pushing operation. The switches 41 to 44 are not limited to the knob type or the push button type, and various mechanical switches such as a joystick type or a jog dial type may be used. It may be used.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. The meter ECU 21 repeatedly executes the image display program and the brightness value setting program of FIG. 3 every predetermined short time by turning on the ignition switch. By executing the image display program, a predetermined opening image is drawn on the meter 10 for a predetermined time, and thereafter images 11 to 17 representing the vehicle state and a setting mode image 18 selected by the mode selection switch 44 are drawn. (See FIG. 1).

  The execution of the brightness value setting program is started in step S10, and the brightness value set in step S11 is input. That is, in the initial state, the luminance value of each polygon stored in the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 is set to a medium initial value. When the overall brightness change switch 41 of the operation unit 40 is operated, the initial value is multiplied by a coefficient (for example, 0.0 to 1.0) corresponding to the operation amount of the overall brightness change switch 41, and the meter 10 The luminance values of the entire polygons that make up the image drawn on are uniformly set to arbitrary values. When the individual brightness change switch 42 is operated, the initial value is multiplied by a coefficient (for example, 0.0 to 1.0) corresponding to the operation amount of the individual brightness change switch 42, and the image selection switch 43. Only the luminance value of the specific polygon selected by is set to an arbitrary value.

  Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not there is a polygon to be drawn on the meter 10. At the time of the first execution of step S12, since there are a plurality of polygons to be drawn on the meter 10, it is determined as “Yes” in step S12, and the processes after step S13 are executed.

  In step S13, the polygon read from the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 into the video memory 32 is changed to a predetermined color and set in consideration of the luminance value set by the processing in step S11. Here, the color means a color set in white to black gradation display according to the luminance value.

  In step S14, the texture corresponding to the polygon read from the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 into the video memory 32 and the polygon changed to a predetermined color are combined to create a combined image (assignment of texel data). Thereafter, the processes in steps S12 to S14 are repeatedly executed for all the polygons to be drawn on the meter 10, and when there are no polygons to be displayed, “No” is determined in step S12, and the synthesis is performed in step S15. An image is drawn on the meter 10. After the processing in step S15, the execution of the brightness value setting program is terminated in step S16.

  In FIG. 4, the setting mode image 18 is set to, for example, the texture TX representing the driving mode of the vehicle by operating the mode selection switch 44, and the polygon PG constituting the driving mode image is selected by operating the image selection switch 43. An example in which only the luminance value of the polygon PG is changed to a high value by operating the individual luminance change switch 42, and FIG. 5 shows an example in which only the luminance value of the polygon PG is changed to a low value. As in the case of the setting mode image 18, only the luminance value of the polygon constituting any image among the images 11 to 17 representing the vehicle state may be changed according to the operation of the image selection switch 43. In addition, as described above, the luminance values of the entire polygons constituting all the images drawn on the meter 10 can be changed uniformly by operating the overall luminance changing switch 41.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the first embodiment, the luminance value set by the overall luminance change switch 41 or the individual luminance change switch 42 in step S11 is taken into account, and the processing of steps S12 to S15 is performed. Then, the polygon with the brightness value added and the texture are synthesized and drawn on the meter 10 as a synthesized image.

  For this reason, the luminance value of the image drawn on the meter 10 can be changed by synthesizing the polygon and the texture set to the predetermined luminance value. Therefore, when the luminance value of the entire polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter 10 is uniformly changed to an arbitrary value, the luminance value of the whole image drawn on the meter can be changed. Further, when only the luminance value of a specific polygon among the polygons constituting the image drawn on the meter 10 is changed to an arbitrary value, only the luminance value of the specific image drawn on the meter can be changed. .

b. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the brightness value of each polygon stored in the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 is set to a medium initial value in the initial state. Of the displayed images 11 to 17, a specific image, that is, a speedometer 11 and a predetermined indicator 17 (for example, rear light warning, engine check warning, seat belt warning, door warning, brake warning, exhaust sound warning, oil warning, charge warning, The luminance values of the polygons constituting the turn direction) may be set in advance to a predetermined value or more. Also in the second embodiment, the entire polygon brightness value or only the brightness value of a specific polygon can be set to an arbitrary value in accordance with the operation of the overall brightness change switch 41 or the individual brightness change switch 42. . Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, portions that perform the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  According to the second embodiment, the specific image can be highlighted and visually recognized by the driver, and convenience during driving can be improved.

c. Third Embodiment In the first and second embodiments, the entire polygon brightness value or only the brightness value of a specific polygon is set to an arbitrary value in response to a manual operation of the overall brightness change switch 41 or the individual brightness change switch 42. In addition to this, a luminance sensor 52 may be provided as shown by a broken line in FIG. 1, for example. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions that perform the same functions as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  The luminance sensor 52 is provided in the vicinity of the meter 10, detects the luminance around the meter, and outputs it to the meter ECU 21. The meter ECU 21 changes the luminance value of each polygon stored in the ROM 22 of the meter control unit 20 based on the detection value of the luminance sensor 52. For example, when the area around the meter is bright, the luminance value of each polygon is changed to a low value, and when the area around the meter is dark, the luminance value of each polygon is changed to a high value.

  According to this 3rd Embodiment, it is possible to improve the visibility of the meter 10 without making a driver | operator take trouble of operation.

The block diagram which shows the display apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st-3rd embodiment of this invention. The front view of the meter of FIG. The flowchart which shows the luminance value setting program performed by meter ECU of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a polygon and a texture are synthesized by adding a predetermined high luminance value by executing the luminance value setting program of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which a polygon and a texture are synthesized by adding a predetermined low luminance value by executing the luminance value setting program of FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

10 Meter 11 Speedometer (image showing vehicle condition)
17 Indicator (image showing vehicle status)
18 Setting mode image 20 Meter control unit 21 Meter ECU (meter control means)
22 ROM (storage means)
23 RAM
30 Graphic control unit (drawing means)
31 graphic controller 32 video memory 40 operation unit (luminance value setting means)
41 Overall brightness change switch (overall brightness change means)
42 Individual brightness change switch (Individual brightness change means)
43 Image selection switch (individual brightness changing means)
44 Mode selection switch 51 Control device 52 Luminance sensor (luminance detection means)

Claims (4)

A drawing means for drawing an image representing the vehicle state on the meter;
Storage means for storing a polygon constituting the image representing the vehicle state and a texture corresponding to the polygon;
Meter control means for causing the drawing means to create the image using the polygon and texture stored in the storage means;
A luminance value setting means for setting the polygon to a predetermined luminance value;
The drawing means reads polygons and textures from the storage means in accordance with a control command from the meter control means, and takes into account the luminance values set by the luminance value setting means, A vehicular display device that combines the texture and draws the synthesized image on the meter.   The luminance value setting means includes a whole luminance changing means capable of uniformly changing the luminance value of the whole polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter to an arbitrary value, and a polygon constituting the image drawn on the meter. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, further comprising individual luminance changing means capable of changing only the luminance value of a specific polygon to an arbitrary value.   The image representing the vehicle state is configured to include a speedometer and a plurality of indicators, and brightness values of polygons constituting the speedometer and a predetermined indicator are set to a predetermined value or more in advance. Item 3. The vehicle display device according to Item 1 or 2. The vehicular display device further includes luminance detection means for detecting luminance around the meter,
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the meter control unit changes a luminance value of a polygon constituting an image drawn on the meter according to the luminance detected by the luminance detection unit. Display device.

Images