JP2012122867A - Vehicle instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle instrument capable of reducing power consumption during stopping of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle instrument comprises a rotating pointer B; a dial C provided with an index part which is an instruction target of the pointer B; driving means 5 for rotating the pointer B; and controlling means 1 for inputting vehicle information and outputting a control signal for actuating the driving means 5 on the basis of the vehicle information. The controlling means 1 carries out stop determination processing (a step S1) for determining a stop state on the basis of vehicle speed of the vehicle information; and carries out energization stop processing (a step S3) for urging to stop power supply to the driving means 5, when determining that a vehicle is in the stop state.

Description

  The present invention allows vehicle information including a vehicle speed to be input, and can be read in comparison with a dial that rotates information such as a measurement value based on this vehicle information and a dial plate provided with an index portion that is an indication target of the pointer. The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument to be displayed.

  As a vehicle instrument for displaying conventional vehicle information, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. These vehicle meters are supplied with power from a battery mounted on the vehicle and perform various displays using this power as a drive source. This battery is also used as a drive source in various sensors mounted on the vehicle.

JP 2002-1104056 A

  In the above vehicle instrument, as long as the vehicle activation switch such as the ignition switch is in the ON state, power is supplied to the electronic components related to the instrument display, and power continues to be consumed. There was room for improvement. In particular, in a vehicle that stops the generator while the vehicle is stopped, such as a vehicle equipped with an idling stop function or an electric vehicle, it is necessary to reduce power consumption from the battery while the vehicle is stopped.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle meter that can reduce the power consumption when the vehicle is stopped.

  The vehicle instrument of the present invention inputs a rotating pointer, a dial plate provided with an index portion to be indicated by the pointer, driving means for rotating the pointer, vehicle information, and the vehicle information. And a control unit that outputs a control signal for operating the driving unit based on the vehicle information, wherein the control unit stops the vehicle based on a vehicle speed (vehicle traveling speed) in the vehicle information. A stop determination process for determining the state is performed, and when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, an energization stop process for urging to stop the power supply to the driving means is performed.

  In addition, a drive circuit that generates and outputs a drive signal to the drive unit based on a control signal from the control unit is provided, and the control unit stops output to the drive unit as the energization stop process. A control signal for urging to shift to the output stop mode is output to the drive circuit.

  And a drive circuit that generates and outputs a drive signal to the drive unit based on a control signal from the control unit, and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the drive circuit. The stop process is characterized in that a control signal for urging to stop the supply of power from the power supply circuit to the drive circuit is output to the power supply circuit.

  In addition, the driving unit includes a stepping motor, and the control unit sets the initial position of the pointer by controlling the pointer to rotate to a rotation limit point under a predetermined condition. It is characterized by performing processing.

  Further, the control means detects, as the predetermined condition, when the vehicle is stopped, further detects an operation of a start switch of the vehicle or an opening / closing operation of a door, and if any of the operations is performed, It is characterized in that the pointer initial processing is performed.

  The present invention allows vehicle information including a vehicle speed to be input, and can be read in comparison with a dial that rotates information such as a measurement value based on this vehicle information and a dial plate provided with an index portion that is an indication target of the pointer. Regarding the vehicle instrument to be displayed, the power consumption when the vehicle is stopped can be reduced.

The top view which shows the example of a display of the vehicle meter in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the electrical structure in embodiment same as the above. The figure which shows the process sequence of the control means in embodiment same as the above.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  What applied the vehicle meter of this invention is demonstrated as an Example. The vehicle meter A is provided at a position where the vehicle user can visually recognize the vehicle in the riding state, in this case, on the instrument panel, and as shown in FIG. Vehicle information can be displayed by the dial C on which the scale part and the indicator part etc. which consist of numerical values, the display panel mentioned later, and the indicator D are printed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle meter A is electrically configured by a control unit 1, a display panel 2, a light source 3, a drive circuit 4, a drive unit 5, and a power supply circuit 6. In addition, the vehicle meter A is connected to a communication cable, an activation switch (IG-SW), and the like for inputting vehicle information generated by various sensors on the vehicle side and other control devices.

  For example, a microcomputer can be applied to the control means 1. The vehicle information and the starting signal from the start switch are input, and a control signal is generated according to these signals, and the control signal is displayed on the display panel 2 and the light source 3. The drive circuit 4 and the power supply circuit 6 are connected so that they can be output.

  The control means 1 stores a CPU for performing arithmetic processing based on various input signals, a readable / rewritable RAM for temporarily storing arithmetic processing results in the CPU, a control program and control data. A storage unit including a ROM, and an input / output interface connected by a bus for exchanging the various signals, control signals, clock signals, and the like. In this case, the control means 1 can obtain information such as vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel consumption, outside air temperature, door opening / closing, etc. as vehicle information input via the communication cable.

  A liquid crystal display panel including a drive driver can be applied to the display panel 2, and a desired display image can be displayed based on a control signal from the control means 1. In this case, vehicle information input by the control means 1 can be displayed. Some, for example, remaining fuel capacity, accumulated travel distance, fuel consumption, etc. can be displayed with numerical values, gauges, etc., and some indicators, warning displays, etc. can be switched and displayed.

  As the light source 3, a light emitting diode mounted on a circuit board housed in the vehicle meter A can be applied. A backlight for transmitting and illuminating the display panel 2, a warning light and an indicator D are turned on and off, a pointer B and characters Used for illumination of the plate C. The light source 3 is controlled by the control means 1 and is switched on / off based on vehicle information or the like, and is displayed / not displayed, or blinked or brightness adjusted.

  The drive circuit 4 can apply a driver for driving the drive means 5 based on the control signal of the control means 1, and generates a drive signal for rotating the pointer B by a desired angle and outputs it to the drive means 5. To do. The drive circuit 4 is prepared in a normal mode, an angle holding mode, and an output stop mode, and can be switched by a control signal from the control means 1.

  The drive means 5 is a drive source that rotates the pointer B based on a drive signal from the drive circuit 4, and a motor can be applied. The vehicle user can read the vehicle information by comparing and interpreting the positional relationship between the pointer B rotated to a desired angle by the driving unit 5 and the index portion to be instructed by the pointer B.

  In this case, the driving means 5 employs a stepping motor that rotates the rotating shaft of the pointer B via a gear (not shown), and there is no driving signal, and the index portion of the dial C is positioned at a magnetically stable position. The pointer B is configured to indicate “0 km / h”.

  Note that the control unit 1 temporarily resets the pointer B to the initial position under a predetermined condition (for example, when the vehicle is stopped and the operation of the ignition switch or the opening / closing of the driver side door is detected). By performing the initial process, the current angle of the pointer B can be recognized.

  In addition, it is preferable that the control means 1 sets as a predetermined condition the state in which the vehicle user does not need the display value of the vehicle meter A, in particular, the vehicle speed display, the vehicle is stopped, and further the ignition switch Immediately after the operation, or after opening or closing of the driver's seat side door when boarding or getting off, or after a door lock operation, it is conceivable to perform the pointer initial processing by operating the pointer B (regardless of vehicle information).

  In the pointer initial processing, the control unit 1 causes the pointer B or a rotating component synchronized with the pointer B to abut on the dial C (not shown) or a stopper provided inside the driving unit 5. Thus, the pointer B is forcibly rotated to the limit position (initial position). By this pointer initial processing, the control means 1 can perform desired angle control with the initial position of the pointer B as a reference point.

  The power supply circuit 6 can apply a constant voltage circuit that steps down the power from the battery to a predetermined voltage and outputs it, and supplies the predetermined voltage to the drive circuit 4. Further, the power supply circuit 6 can switch supply / stop for the output of the predetermined voltage based on the control signal from the control means 1. In this case, the power supply circuit 6 includes a regulator circuit using a Zener diode, a transistor, or the like, and steps down the power supply voltage of about 12 V from the battery 5 to about 5 V (predetermined voltage).

  The control means 1, the display panel 2, the light source 3, the drive circuit 4, the drive means 5, and the power supply circuit 6 of the vehicle meter A described above are housed and held in the same casing and are connected via the communication cable or the like. Connected to an external device.

  Next, the control processing procedure of the speedometer (vehicle speedometer) by the control means 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control means 1 reads information on the traveling speed of the vehicle in the input vehicle information, and performs a stop determination process for determining whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state (step S1). Note that the stop determination process has been determined based on the vehicle information. However, the control signal to the drive circuit 4 is an instruction command that prompts the pointer B to indicate “0 km / h” of the indicator section. It can also be determined by whether or not.

  When it is determined by the stop determination process that the vehicle has stopped, the control unit 1 performs a time determination process (step S2) for determining whether or not the stop state has elapsed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) after the stop. In this time determination process, the predetermined time can be arbitrarily set as long as it is longer than the time from when the stop is determined until the pointer B actually indicates the indicator part of “0 km / h”.

  The control unit 1 determines that the pointer B continues to indicate “0 km / h” of the indicator portion when the determination that the predetermined time has elapsed is made by the time determination process, and the drive unit 4 drives the drive unit 5. An energization stop process for urging the output of the drive signal to be stopped is performed (step S3).

  In this case, the control unit 1 can perform an energization stop process for stopping the power consumption associated with the drive of the drive unit 5 by outputting a control signal for urging to shift to the output stop mode to the drive circuit 4. The control means 1 can also perform the energization stop process by outputting a control signal for urging to stop the power supply to the drive circuit 4 to the power supply circuit 6.

  Further, the control means 1 is instructed to display a traveling speed value based on the vehicle information by the operation of the driving means 5 when the vehicle is not stopped by the stop determination process or when the predetermined time has not elapsed by the time determination process. A normal instruction process for outputting a control signal for prompting to the drive circuit 4 and the power supply circuit 6 is performed (step S4).

  By repeating the above processing (steps S1 to S4), it is possible to reduce power consumption for driving the pointer B when the vehicle is stopped.

  Such a vehicle meter A inputs a rotating pointer B, a dial C provided with an indicator portion to be indicated by the pointer B, a driving means 5 for rotating the pointer B, and vehicle information. A vehicle instrument comprising a control means 1 for outputting a control signal for operating the drive means 5 based on the vehicle information, wherein the control means 1 is in a stopped state based on the vehicle speed in the vehicle information. A stoppage determination process (step S1) is performed, and when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, an energization stop process (step S3) for urging to stop the power supply to the drive means 5 is performed.

  Therefore, even if the vehicle start switch (ignition switch) is in the on state, that is, the vehicle is in an operating state, the vehicle meter A can reduce the power consumption by the driving means 5, particularly the power consumption when the vehicle is stopped. By applying the above-described embodiment to a vehicle that stops the generator while the vehicle is stopped, such as a vehicle equipped with an idling stop function or an electric vehicle, the power consumption from the stopped battery can be reduced, which is particularly effective.

  In addition, a drive circuit 4 that generates and outputs a drive signal to the drive unit 5 based on a control signal from the control unit 1 is provided. The control unit 1 supplies the drive unit 5 with an energization stop process (step S3). By outputting to the drive circuit 4 a control signal that prompts the user to shift to an output stop mode for stopping output, the power consumption while the vehicle is stopped can be reduced simply by a switching command based on the control signal. In addition, it is possible to instantaneously return to the normal instruction process (step S4).

  Further, the control means 1 includes a drive circuit 4 that generates and outputs a drive signal to the drive means 5 based on a control signal from the control means 1, and a power supply circuit 6 that supplies power to the drive circuit 4. As an energization stop process (step S3), a control signal that prompts the power supply circuit 6 to stop supplying power to the drive circuit 4 is output to the power supply circuit 6, so that not only the drive means 5 but also the drive circuit 4 Power consumption can be reduced.

  The driving means 5 is a stepping motor, and the control means 1 controls the pointer B to rotate to the rotation limit point under a predetermined condition, thereby setting the initial position of the pointer 1. By performing the processing, it is possible to realize power saving by energization stop processing (step S3) while ensuring accurate instruction control.

  Further, the control means 1 detects that the vehicle has stopped as the predetermined condition, and further detects the operation of the start switch of the vehicle or the opening / closing operation of the door. By performing the processing, it is possible to calibrate (adjust) the indicated position when the necessity of the vehicle instrument is low for the vehicle user, and even when the energization to the driving means is stopped, the normal display use can be performed. Accurate instruction control is possible without stopping.

  Although the vehicular instrument of the present invention has been described as an example in the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations depart from the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the scope.

  For example, although the index portion of the dial C is printed and formed, a dial that is three-dimensionally expressed by assembling the scale portion with another member can also be applied. Further, although the stepping motor has been described as an example of the driving means 5, it can be applied to a cross coil type movement that does not use a gear or a yoke. In this case, it is also possible to configure so that the indicator portion whose pointer is “0 km / h” is initially indicated by a zero return magnet or the like.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the composite instrument applied to the speedometer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to any pointer-type instrument that indicates a predetermined position while the vehicle is stopped. Can be applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to an instantaneous fuel consumption meter, an output meter (power gauge) of a motor for driving a vehicle in an electric vehicle, and a tachometer in a vehicle equipped with an idling stop function.

  In addition, the power consumption by the driving means 5 is reduced while the vehicle is stopped. At the same time, the illumination brightness is partially reduced such as a light source for pointer illumination, or the light source is partially turned off. Therefore, it is conceivable to further reduce the power consumption while the vehicle is stopped.

  The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument, and can be applied as, for example, a vehicle instrument mounted on a moving body including an automobile, a motorcycle, an agricultural machine, or a construction machine.

1 control means 4 drive circuit 5 drive means 6 power supply circuit B pointer C dial

Claims (5)

A rotating pointer, a dial plate provided with an index portion to be indicated by the pointer, a driving unit for rotating the pointer, vehicle information is input, and the driving unit is operated based on the vehicle information. A vehicle instrument comprising a control means for outputting a control signal for
The control unit performs a stop determination process for determining a stop state based on a vehicle speed in the vehicle information, and stops the power supply to the drive unit when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped. A vehicular instrument characterized by performing an energization stop process that prompts the user to stop. A drive circuit for generating and outputting a drive signal to the drive means based on a control signal from the control means;
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs, as the energization stop process, a control signal for urging to shift to an output stop mode in which output to the drive unit is stopped. Vehicle instrument. A drive circuit that generates and outputs a drive signal to the drive means based on a control signal from the control means; and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the drive circuit;
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs a control signal that prompts the power supply circuit to stop supplying power to the drive circuit as the energization stop process. Vehicle instrument. The driving means comprises a stepping motor,
The control means performs a pointer initial process for setting an initial position of the pointer by controlling the pointer to rotate to a rotation limit point under a predetermined condition. The vehicle instrument according to claim 3.   The control means detects, as the predetermined condition, when the vehicle is stopped, further detects an operation of a start switch of the vehicle or an opening / closing operation of a door, and if any of the operations is performed, The vehicle instrument according to claim 4, wherein processing is performed.

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