JP2012032286A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for instruments of a vehicle including economical display that is not difficult to sensuously grasp unlike display using a scale and a pointer, and does not provides only ON/OFF information like a warning indicator lamp, but provides three-dimensional display and strongly impresses a driver and passengers.SOLUTION: The display device of a vehicle includes a first display part which displays instruments of the vehicle, and a second display part which displays additional information. The display part is, for example, a speedometer, and the second display part displays, for example, information associated with economical driving. The second display part has a plurality of colorless transparent light guide plates arranged over a top side of a dial of the first display part, wherein the light guide plates are grooved in a pattern (for example, a flower), and light is guided to the light guide plates as the degree of economical driving is improved to let the driver and passengers view the pattern formed by the grooving.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device.

  In recent years, there have been various proposals for higher functionality for display devices for automobiles. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for expressing glossiness with a ring image, which is a frame portion of a meter, and automatically adjusting the portion indicated by the pointer to a luminance that is easy to visually recognize.

JP 2004-157434 A

  In recent years, displays related to eco-driving (eco-displays, eco-gauges, etc.) are often made on display units of vehicles. The display method in the conventional eco display includes, for example, a display method using a dial scale and a pointer, and a display method using a warning indicator lamp.

  In the case of a scale and a pointer, it is possible to read quantitative information, but it is difficult to grasp sensuously. In the case of a warning indicator lamp, quantitative information cannot be obtained because it is only on / off information. In addition, both methods have a weak impression due to their flat expression. A display device in which these points are improved is desired. Of course, this problem is not limited to the eco labeling.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that it is not difficult to grasp sensuously like a display with a scale and a pointer in a display device of a vehicle instrument including an eco display, and a warning indicator An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that is not only on-off information like a lamp but also a three-dimensional display and can give a strong impression to a driver and an occupant.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to the present invention is arranged in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, and displays a first display unit that displays a vehicle instrument and additional information for information indicated by the instrument. 2 display units, the first display unit is a scale plate displaying the scale of the instrument, and a mechanical pointer unit that moves along the scale of the scale panel and indicates the value of the instrument The second display unit is plate-shaped and has light guide properties, and is arranged so as to overlap the surface on which the scale of the scale plate is displayed so that the scale on the scale plate is visible. A light guide plate formed of a transparent material, a light emitting unit that emits light so that light is guided into the light guide plate, and a control unit that controls the intensity of light emission in the light emitting unit according to the additional information; A pattern is formed by a recess on the surface of the light guide plate, and the light emitting plate The light emitted from the part is guided along the main surface of the light guide plate, and the guided light is subjected to the action of changing the traveling direction of at least a part of the concave part, and the pattern by the concave part is visually recognized. It is characterized by becoming.

  Thus, in the display device of the present invention, the first display unit that displays the information of the instrument and the second display unit that displays the additional information are displayed in a superimposed manner, and the first display unit is a scale plate. Displayed by a mechanical pointer unit, the second display unit forms a recess in the transparent light guide plate arranged so as to overlap the scale plate, and guides light to the light guide plate according to additional information. It is displayed by visually recognizing the drawn pattern. Therefore, by displaying instrument information and additional information, one by a mechanical pointer and scale plate, and the other by displaying a pattern on a transparent board, the driver can display two pieces of information without moving the line of sight. (Occupant) can be obtained, and different display forms can be superimposed to give the driver (occupant) a visually strong impression. Further, the driver (occupant) can intuitively recognize the additional information by the shining design. Further, since the scale plate and the light guide plate are arranged so as to overlap with each other, the design of the light guide plate rises in three dimensions with respect to the scale plate, which is also a three-dimensional display.

  Further, a plurality of the light guide plates are arranged on the scale plate portion, and a plurality of light emitting portions for guiding light to the individual light guide plates are provided, and the control unit is provided according to the additional information. The intensity of light emission in the plurality of light emitting units may be controlled for each light emitting unit that guides light to each light guide plate.

  As a result, light of an intensity corresponding to the numerical value of the additional information is guided to each of the plurality of light guide plates, so that a plurality of symbols are changed and displayed according to the additional information, so that the operation is intuitive. Display that gives a strong impression to the user. In addition, since a plurality of light guide plates are used, additional information can be displayed in more detail. In addition, since a plurality of light guide plates are arranged so as to overlap with each other, the symbols formed by the grooves formed on the light guide plates are also displayed so as to be more three-dimensional than in the case of a single light guide plate.

  The plurality of light emitting units emit light of different colors for each light emitting unit that guides light to each light guide plate, and when the plurality of light emitting units emit light, groove portions formed in the individual light guide plates May be visually recognized as a pattern of a different color.

  As a result, light of a different color is guided to each individual light guide plate, so that the groove portion is visually recognized as a different color design for each individual light guide plate, so that a different color design emerges according to additional information. It is displayed to rise. Moreover, since the several light-guide plate is arrange | positioned overlappingly, the symbol formed on it is visually recognized in three dimensions. Therefore, it is possible to realize a display that gives different impressions to the driver because three-dimensional patterns of different colors emerge.

  In addition, the control unit may perform control to switch the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit in two steps, that is, intensity at the time of light emission and zero intensity at the time of non-light emission.

  As a result, the light guided to the light guide plate is adjusted in two stages, light emission or non-light emission, so that the light can be adjusted in a simple manner, and the numerical value of the instrument can be recognized by the change of light in the pattern of the light guide plate A device can be realized.

  Further, the control unit may set an intensity level between the maximum intensity and the zero intensity as the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit, and perform control to switch the light emission intensity of the light emitting unit in three or more steps. Good.

  As a result, the light guided to the light guide plate is adjusted in three or more stages, so that it is possible to realize a display device in which the numerical value of the instrument is recognized by finely adjusting the light and changing the light in the pattern of the light guide plate.

  The control unit may perform control to continuously adjust the intensity level between the maximum intensity and the zero intensity as the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit.

  Thereby, since the light guided to the light guide plate is continuously adjusted, it is possible to realize a display device in which light is finely adjusted and the numerical value of the instrument is recognized by the continuous change of the light in the pattern of the light guide plate.

  Further, the vehicle is provided with detection means for detecting fuel consumption information of the vehicle, the second display section is a display section for displaying fuel consumption information detected by the detection means, and the control means is detected by the detection means. The intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit may be controlled according to the numerical value of fuel consumption.

  Thereby, the information on the fuel consumption of the vehicle is detected, and the light with the intensity corresponding to the fuel consumption information is guided to the light guide plate, whereby the light intensity of the pattern of the light guide plate is adjusted according to the fuel consumption information. Therefore, the fuel consumption information can be notified by a display that gives a three-dimensional and strong impression to the driver by displaying the fuel consumption information on the dial of another instrument of the vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible to effectively notify the operator of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by changing the design.

The block diagram of the display apparatus in the Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of the arrangement | positioning form of a display apparatus. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a light emitting diode. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a scale board and a light-guide plate. Sectional drawing of a light-guide plate. The figure which shows a light-guide plate and a display example. The figure which shows the example of another light-guide plate.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic views of a device configuration of a display device 1 (display device) for a vehicle according to the present invention. The display device 1 is installed in, for example, an automobile vehicle 2.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the display device 1 includes a meter electronic control unit (ECU) 3, and the display content of the display device 1 is controlled by the meter ECU 3. The control system 1 includes a pointer LED 30, a drive unit 31, a mechanical pointer 32 (pointer), a scale plate LED 33, a diffusion plate 34, a scale plate 35 (clockface), an eco display LED 36, and a light guide plate 37 as a meter display mechanism. , 38 (prism).

  The display device 1 includes a first display portion that is a portion that displays a certain instrument of the vehicle 2 (a numerical value thereof) and a second display portion that displays additional information different from the first display portion. The first display unit is a portion including a pointer LED 30, a drive unit 31, a mechanical pointer 32 (pointer), a scale plate LED 33, and a diffusion plate 34, and the second display unit is an eco display LED 36, light guide plates 37, 38. (Prism). In the following example, the first display unit displays the vehicle speed of the vehicle 2 (that is, a speedometer), and the second display unit displays information related to eco driving (eco driving).

  The pointer LED 30 is a light emitting diode (LED: Light Emitting Diode) for supplying light to the mechanical pointer. The drive unit 31 is a part that rotates the mechanical pointer 32 about the rotation axis by a rotation angle corresponding to the numerical values of various meters (instruments) of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the mechanical pointer 32 has a bar-shaped pointer portion that rotates on the dial plate 35 around the rotation shaft 32 a, and the numerical value of the meter of the vehicle 2 is indicated by the scale pointed by the pointer portion. indicate.

  The LED for the scale plate 33 irradiates light from the back side of the scale plate 35 (with the occupant side as the front side) so that the scale formed on the scale plate 35 can be viewed from the occupant (driver). The diffusion plate 34 has the same disk shape as the scale plate 35 and has the property of diffusing light. The material of the diffusion plate 34 may be acrylic, for example. The light emitted from the scale plate LED 33 to the diffusion plate 34 is diffused throughout the diffusion plate 34. Thereby, light diverges from the whole diffusion plate 34, and light is irradiated to the whole scale board 35 from the back side.

  The scale board 35 is a plate-shaped member on which the scale of the meter of the vehicle 2 is formed. The scale plate 35 is made of, for example, a light-transmitting resin, and a portion that the driver (occupant) wants to visually recognize, such as a scale portion or a number (character) portion, is light-colored (for example, white), and other areas are defined. If it is formed (or colored) as a dark color (for example, black), only the scale portion and the number (character) portion are visible from the driver (occupant) when light is irradiated from the back side. Alternatively, in the scale plate 35, the light transmittance of a portion that is desired to be visually recognized by the driver (occupant) may be made high (or transparent), and the light transmittance of other regions may be made low (or opaque).

  The eco display LED 36 is an LED that supplies (irradiates) light to the light guide plates 37 and 38. The light guide plates 37 and 38 are light guide plates for eco display. When light is supplied from the eco display LED 36, a display related to eco driving is visually recognized by the driver (occupant). Details thereof will be described later.

  The meter ECU 3 has a normal computer structure, a CPU that executes various calculations and information processing, a RAM that is a temporary storage unit as a work area thereof, a ROM that stores various information, and an in-vehicle communication An interface unit or the like may be provided. Note that the ROM includes an EEPROM capable of erasing and rewriting stored contents.

  The display system further includes a vehicle speed sensor 50, an engine ECU 51, and an injector 52. The vehicle speed sensor 50 detects the speed of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 50 includes a rotation detection unit such as a known rotary encoder, and is installed in the vicinity of the wheel mounting unit, for example, to detect the rotation of the wheel as a pulse signal. The rotation speed of the wheel is converted into the speed of the vehicle.

  The engine ECU 51 is an ECU that controls the engine of the vehicle 2. The injector 52 injects fuel into the engine of the vehicle 2 in response to an instruction from the engine ECU 51. The meter ECU 3, the vehicle speed sensor 50, and the engine ECU 51 are connected by a multiple communication bus, for example, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication, so that information can be transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 2, these equipments are arranged on a dashboard 6 (or an instrument panel) in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 2. The structure of the display system 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the driver side may be referred to as the front side and the opposite side as the back side. Further, the radial direction, the axial direction, and the circumferential direction described below refer to a radial direction, an axial direction, and a circumferential direction with reference to the rotation shaft 32a of the pointer 32.

  FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the display system along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The right side in the drawing shows the upper side in the vertical direction and the left side in the drawing shows the lower side in the vertical direction. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement positions of various LEDs on the substrate 45, as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface (main surface (surface having the largest area)) of the substrate 45. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement relationship of the light guide plates 37 and 38 and the like. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  The display system 1 further includes color films 36a and 36b, light shielding walls 40 and 41, light shielding films 42 and 43, a light shielding plate 44, a substrate 45, and a shaft portion 32a. The color films 36 a and 36 b are arranged so as to cover the light emitting surface of the eco display LED 36, and give color to light emitted from the eco display LED 36 and guided to the light guide plates 37 and 38.

  The color film 36a and the color film 36b may be the same color or different colors. The light shielding walls 40 and 41 have a light shielding property and are cylindrical, and shield the light leaked from the cylindrical portions (described later) of the light guide plates 37 and 38 so as not to affect other parts.

  The light shielding films 42 and 43 also have light shielding properties, are cylindrical, are arranged between the cylindrical portions (described later) of the light guide plates 37 and 38, and radially outside, and light leaked from one of the light guide plates 37 and 38. Is shielded from light so as not to enter the other or other parts. The light shielding plate 44 has a disk shape and shields the light from the LED 36 from being irradiated to the eyes of the driver (occupant). As shown in FIG. 2, the above equipment is disposed on the substrate 45. The board | substrate 45 should just be a board | substrate with which the electric circuit which controls this system, such as control of light emission of LED30,33,36, etc. and rotation of the pointer 32, was formed.

  Next, details of the light guide plates 37 and 38 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light guide plate 37 includes a disc portion 37 a and a cylindrical portion 37 b. The light guide plates 37 and 38 (prisms) are colorless and transparent, have light guide properties (property of transmitting light inside), and may be made of acrylic (acrylic board), for example. The disc portion 37a has a disc shape having a through hole in the center, and is formed by extending a cylindrical portion 37b from the through hole toward the opposite side (back side) of the driver. As shown in FIG. 5, a slope portion 37c is formed at a joint portion between the disc portion 37a and the cylindrical portion 37b. The slope portion 37c may be formed at an angle of 45 degrees with the disc portion 37a, for example. Further, the slope portion 37c may be formed at an angle of 45 degrees with the cylindrical portion 37b, for example. The effect of the slope portion 37c will be described later.

  A groove portion 37d is formed on the surface of the disc portion 37a opposite to the driver side, and a design is drawn by the groove portion 37d. Similarly, the light guide plate 38 includes a disc portion 38a and a cylindrical portion 38b. The disc portion 38a has a disc shape having a through hole in the center, and a cylindrical portion 38b having a cylindrical shape extends from the through hole toward the opposite side of the driver.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a sloped portion 38c is formed at the joint between the disc portion 38a and the cylindrical portion 38b. The effect by the slope 38c will be described later. The slope portion 38c may be formed at an angle of 45 degrees with the disc portion 38a, for example. Further, the slope portion 38c may be formed at an angle of 45 degrees with the cylindrical portion 38b, for example. A groove portion 38d is formed on the surface of the disc portion 38a opposite to the driver side, and a design is drawn by the groove portion 38d.

  The magnitude relationship between the cylindrical portion 37b of the light guide plate 37 and the cylindrical portion 38b of the light guide plate 38 is such that the cylindrical portion 37b can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 38b. The disc portion 37a of the light guide plate 37 and the disc portion 38a of the light guide plate 38 may be disposed in close contact with each other, or may be disposed at intervals.

  A light shielding film 42 is disposed between the cylindrical portion 37b and the cylindrical portion 38b. A light shielding film 43 is disposed outside the cylindrical portion 38b in the radial direction. A light shielding wall 41 is disposed further radially outward of the light shielding film 43. Further, the light shielding wall 40 is also disposed in the radial inner envelope of the cylindrical portion 37b.

  On the opposite side of the disc portion 38a of the light guide plate 38 from the driver side (disc portion 37a side), a scale plate 35 is arranged. As described above, the scale plate 35 is formed with scales, numbers, and the like. Examples of scales and numbers are shown in FIG. For example, the scale plate 35 allows light to pass through parts that should be visually recognized by the driver, such as scales and numbers (for example, white), and other parts have low light transmission (for example, black). Good. A diffusion plate 34 is disposed on the back side of the scale plate 35.

  As described above, the diffusion plate 34 and the light guide plates 37 and 38 are formed of a material having light diffusibility and light guide properties such as acrylic. A disc-shaped light shielding plate 44 is arranged in a region on the front side of the light guide plate 37 and on the center side in the radial direction. When viewed from the driver side, the light shielding plate 44 blocks the light beam directly directed from the eco display LED 36 toward the driver (occupant).

  LEDs for supplying light to each of the above parts are arranged in various places. Each LED may be fixed to the surface of the substrate 45 by bonding or screwing. The pointer LED 30 is disposed near the rotation shaft 32a of the pointer 32 at a position radially inward of the shielding wall.

  The pointer 32 is configured to transmit light to some extent, for example, white resin. As a result, the pointer LED 30 irradiates the vicinity of the center in the radial direction of the pointer from the back side so that the driver can visually recognize that the entire pointer is emitting light softly. As shown in FIG. 3, the pointer LEDs 30 may be evenly (equally arranged) in the circumferential direction.

  The scale plate LEDs 33 are arranged at positions where light can be supplied to the diffusion plate 34 as evenly as possible on the back side. In the example of FIG. 3, the scale plate LED 33 has the diffusion plates 34 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at the central portion in the radial direction.

  Thus, when the scale plate LED 33 emits light, the diffusion plate 34 is irradiated. Then, due to the diffusibility of the diffusion plate 34, the irradiated light is transmitted to the entire diffusion plate 34, and the light is emitted from the entire diffusion plate 34. This light irradiates the scale plate 35 from the back side. As described above, the scale board 35 is configured so that only the scale and the numerical part have translucency, and therefore, it is visually recognized from the driver (occupant) as only the scale, the character, and the numerical part are shining.

  The eco-display LED 36 is arranged at a position where the cylindrical portions 37b, 38b of the light guide plates 37, 38 are extended in the axial direction. The eco-display LEDs 36 may also be arranged equally (equally) in the circumferential direction. The portion where the eco display is performed on the light guide plates 37 and 38 by the light emission of the eco display LED 36 is the main part of the present invention. Details will be described below.

  As shown in the lower side of FIG. 2, when the eco display LED 36 emits light, the light enters the light guide plates 37 and 38 from the back end surfaces of the cylindrical portions 37 c and 38 c of the light guide plates 37 and 38. At this time, since the light passes through (transmits) the color films 36a and 36b, the light is converted (colored) into light having the color of the color films 36a and 36b.

  The light incident on the light guide plates 37 and 38 is transmitted (guided) through the cylindrical portions 37b and 38c by the light guide property. Then, by being reflected by the inclined surfaces 37c, 38c, the light is transmitted (guided) radially outward in the disk portions 37a, 38a. The light transmitted (guided) in this way is subjected to an action of changing the direction of at least a part of the light beams in the groove portions 37d and 38d. Specifically, at least some of the light rays are subjected to actions such as reflection and refraction by the grooves 37d and 38d. As a result, a light beam directed toward the driver is generated. When the driver's vision perceives this light beam, the driver draws the symbols drawn by the grooves 37d and 38d.

  The light emission and non-light emission switching of the eco display LED 36 and the adjustment of the light intensity are controlled by the meter ECU 3 according to, for example, fuel consumption information. The control procedure is as follows. First, the meter ECU 3 acquires an instantaneous value of the vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 50, and acquires an instantaneous value of the fuel injection amount (fuel injection amount per unit time) in the engine cylinder from the engine ECU 51. The meter ECU 3 divides the instantaneous value of the vehicle speed by the instantaneous value of the fuel injection amount. The numerical value obtained in this way is a numerical value representing the travel distance per unit fuel injection amount, that is, the instantaneous value of fuel consumption (fuel consumption).

  The meter ECU 3 stores the instantaneous value of the fuel consumption. Each time the instantaneous value of fuel consumption is calculated from time to time, the value may be stored in the memory of the meter ECU 3. The meter ECU 3 calculates a threshold value for evaluating a numerical value of fuel consumption from the distribution of accumulated instantaneous values of fuel consumption in the past.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the evaluation is made in three stages (“normal driving”, “Good Eco Driving”, and “Better Eco Driving”). In this case, there are two threshold values. The threshold value calculation method may be, for example, a numerical value obtained by storing fuel consumption numerical values for a predetermined period in the past and dividing the maximum value and the minimum value of the stored fuel consumption numerical values into three equal parts. Alternatively, the threshold value may be set in advance.

  The meter ECU 3 evaluates the current degree of eco-driving (in the example of FIG. 6 in three stages) according to which of the sections divided by the threshold the instantaneous value of the current fuel consumption belongs, and based on the evaluation Then, light emission or non-light emission of the eco display LED 36 is switched. In the example of FIG. 6, in the case of normal operation, all the eco display LEDs 36 are made to emit no light, and in the case of eco operation, one of the eco display LEDs 36 among the light guide plates 37 and 38 emits light and the other eco display LED is used. The LEDs 36 do not emit light, and in the case of better eco-driving, all the eco-display LEDs 36 are controlled to emit light.

  FIG. 6 shows a display example. The left side of FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen from the driver (occupant) of the display system 1, and the right side of FIG. 6 is a view showing only the light guide plates 37 and 38. In the example of FIG. 6, the light guide plates 37 and 38 are formed on the back surface side by grooves 37d and 38d so that a flower (such as a water lily) is imaged. If the groove portions 37d and 38d are, for example, grooves having a width of about 0.3 mm, a delicate design can be formed.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the meter composed of the dial plate 35 and the pointer 32 is a speedometer. In other words, the eco display is displayed superimposed on the speedometer. Accordingly, since the eco display is superimposed on the speedometer that the driver frequently views, the eco driving information can be reliably transmitted to the driver.

  In the case of the example of FIG. 6, in the case of “normal operation”, nothing is displayed regarding the eco-driving, and in the case of “good eco-driving”, the light guide plate 37 guides a small flower pattern 37d, and “ In the case of “better eco-driving”, both the light guide plates 37 and 38 are guided to display both a small flower symbol 37d and a large flower symbol 38d. Since the light guide plates 37 and 38 are colorless and transparent, the driver can also visually recognize the scale plate 35 even when the symbols are visually recognized. That is, the symbol and the scale are visually recognized.

  As described above, as the degree of eco-driving improves (as the instantaneous value of fuel consumption improves), the image of the flower with the symbols 37d and 38d opens (displays larger), so that it is a metaphor of a flower that is easily connected to an eco-image. In this way, the driver (occupant) can visually recognize the stage of eco-driving.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the design of the light guide plate 37 on the front surface side (side closer to the driver) is formed smaller than the design of the light guide plate 38 on the back surface side (side far from the driver). This may be reversed. That is, the design of the light guide plate 37 may be formed larger than the design of the light guide plate 38. In any case, the design of the light guide plate 37 and the light guide plate 38 may not be the same, or the design 37d and the design 38d (groove portion) may be formed so that their positions are shifted.

  Further, the degree of eco-driving may be divided into two stages, four stages, five stages or more instead of three stages. Further, in the above embodiment, two light guide plates are used. However, in the present invention, the number of light guide plates is not limited to one, three, four, five, or the like. Further, in the above, the emission intensity in the LED 36 is only two steps of emission and non-emission (extinguishment, zero intensity). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the emission intensity is set between the maximum intensity and the zero intensity. The emission intensity may be switched in stages. In such a case, the intensity of light supplied to the plurality of light guide plates may be controlled, for example, as follows according to the stage of eco-driving (in the following description, the order of the plurality of light guide plates is given). Put).

  In the case of running with the lowest eco-driving degree (normal driving), no light is supplied from the LED to any light guide plate. Then, as the stage of eco-driving improves from that state, first, the LED that supplies light to the first light guide plate in the above order emits light. As the eco-driving stage is further improved, the light emission intensity of the LED for the light guide plate is increased.

  This operation is continued as the degree of eco-driving is improved. Then, after the emission intensity of the LED for the first light guide plate reaches the maximum intensity, the LED for the second light guide plate emits light when the degree of eco-operation is further improved. Thereafter, as the degree of eco-driving improves, the same processing is continued for the third light guide plate and the fourth light guide plate.

  Such light control makes it possible to intuitively and finely recognize the improvement in the degree of eco-driving by increasing the number of symbols or increasing the number of symbols as the stage of eco-driving improves. At that time, the symbol drawn on the first light guide plate may be a small symbol, and may be larger as the second and third symbols. In this case, improvement in the degree of eco-driving can be intuitively grasped by the size of the symbol.

  Although the emission intensity is adjusted stepwise in the above, it may be continuous rather than stepwise. That is, the degree of eco-driving is not classified stepwise, for example, the fuel consumption value (instantaneous value) itself is used, and the light emission intensity of the LED 36 that supplies light to the light guide plates 37 and 38 is continuously adjusted according to the instantaneous value of fuel consumption. To do.

  Further, the symbols formed on the light guide plates 37 and 38 are not limited to the symbols in FIG. Another example is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 7, the petal pattern (pattern) is more circular. Furthermore, the pattern formed on the light guide plates 37 and 38 is not limited to the flower pattern. It may be a symbol of the earth's nature, an animal, or a plant that gives an image of ecology. Alternatively, it may be any design or design such as a geometric figure such as a polygon, circle, or ellipse, and may be a letter, a number, or a combination of the above.

  As described above, the symbols on the light guide plates 37 and 38 are formed by the groove portions 37d and 38d. The inventors have obtained the knowledge that if the grooves 37d and 38d are subjected to a rough surface treatment (rough surface processing, roughening), the design can be shined more strongly. It is. The cross sections of the groove portions 37d and 38d may be semicircular or triangular. In the case of a triangular shape, the inventor has obtained the knowledge that the grooves are visually recognized more finely, which is suitable when a more delicate design is desired.

  The examples in FIGS. 6 and 7 are linear groove portions, and therefore the design is a diagram. However, this may be changed to a general concave portion such as a planar groove portion (concave portion). In the case of a planar recess, if the surface area is subjected to a rough surface treatment, the surface is visually recognized by the driver when guided. Further, the rough surface treatment may be applied to the slope portions 37c and 38c. The inventors have found that the rough surface treatment in the slope portions 37c and 38c is suitable for reflecting light there.

  In the above embodiment, the eco display LED 36 is arranged at the center of the display area. In this case, it is easy to secure the LED placement location, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the LED 36 placement location may be any location where light can be guided into the light guide plates 37 and 38. Moreover, in the said Example, although the groove parts 37d and 38d were formed in the center of a display area, even if it forms in the position shifted | deviated from the center, the design by a groove part is visually recognized by light-guiding.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display by the light guide plates 37 and 38 is a display of additional information regarding eco-driving, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be any additional information regarding the vehicle. Alternatively, numerical information (tachometer, fuel fuel gauge, battery fuel gauge) of another meter may be used. As an example of display other than eco, for example, when the vehicle speed of the vehicle 2 exceeds (approachs the speed limit) or approaches, it may be notified. In that case, a groove portion may be formed on the light guide plate with characters or the like indicating that the speed limit is exceeded or approaching the speed limit. Furthermore, in the present invention, among a plurality of light guide plates, a certain light guide plate provides some additional information (numeric information of another instrument), and another light guide plate provides other additional information (numeric information of another instrument). It may be displayed.

1 Display device 2 Vehicle 3 Meter ECU
35 Scale plate 37, 38 Light guide plate

Claims (7)

A first display unit that is disposed in a vehicle cabin and displays a vehicle instrument; and a second display unit that displays additional information for information indicated by the instrument;
The first display unit includes:
A scale board displaying the scale of the first instrument,
A mechanical pointer that moves along the scale of the dial and points to the value of the instrument;
The second display unit includes:
A light guide plate that has a light guide property in a plate shape, is disposed on the surface on which the scale of the scale plate is displayed, and is formed of a transparent material so that the scale on the scale plate is visible; and
A light emitting unit that emits light so that light is guided into the light guide plate;
A control unit for controlling the intensity of light emission in the light emitting unit according to the additional information,
A pattern is formed by a recess on the surface of the light guide plate, and light emitted from the light emitting portion is guided along the main surface of the light guide plate, and the guided light is at least one of the light in the recess. The display device is characterized in that the part is subjected to the action of changing the traveling direction so that the symbol by the concave part is visually recognized. A plurality of the light guide plates are arranged on the scale plate,
A plurality of the light emitting units for guiding light to individual light guide plates are provided,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light emission intensity of the plurality of light emitting units for each light emitting unit that guides light to each light guide plate according to the additional information. The plurality of light emitting units emit light of different colors for each light emitting unit that guides light to each light guide plate,
The display device according to claim 2, wherein when a plurality of the light emitting units emit light, the groove portions formed in each of the light guide plates are visually recognized as different colored symbols.   The said control part performs control which switches in two steps of the intensity | strength at the time of light emission, and the zero intensity | strength at the time of non-light emission as intensity | strength of the light light-emitted from the said light emission part. Display device.   The said control part sets the intensity level between the maximum intensity and the zero intensity as the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting part, and performs control to switch the light emission intensity of the light emitting part in three or more steps. The display device according to any one of 1 to 3.   The display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit performs control to continuously adjust an intensity level between a maximum intensity and a zero intensity as an intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit. apparatus. A detecting means for detecting fuel consumption information of the vehicle;
The second display unit is a display unit that displays fuel consumption information detected by the detecting means,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit according to a numerical value of fuel consumption detected by the detection unit.

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