JP3156834B2 - Pointer-type display for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointer-type display device for a vehicle, which displays state information that changes with the state of the vehicle, such as the running speed of the vehicle or the number of revolutions of an engine provided on the vehicle, by means of a pointer. The present invention relates to an apparatus for updating a target designated position that changes according to state information at predetermined time intervals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pointer-type display device for a vehicle for displaying the speed of a vehicle and the number of revolutions of an engine has been known. In this pointer-type display device for a vehicle, the target pointing position information of the pointer, more specifically, the target pointing position information of the pointer based on the vehicle speed information and the engine speed information acquired at that time is used as a data update period. In each control position calculation period shorter than the data update period, the pointer position at the next control position calculation period is determined according to the difference between the current pointer position and the target position described above. The control position is given, and the pointer is moved to this control position within a period until the next control position calculation cycle.

That is, target pointing position information of the pointer corresponding to the traveling speed of the vehicle or the engine speed at that time is given for each data update cycle, and the pointer is provided for each control position calculation cycle shorter than this data update cycle. Is calculated, and the pointer is moved by this control amount. With this configuration, since the movement amount is given to the pointer at each control position calculation cycle, the movement of the pointer can be made smooth when the pointer is moved from the current designated position to the target designated position.

[0004]

Incidentally, in such a conventional apparatus, the above-mentioned data update cycle is given as a fixed value. For this reason, the same data update cycle is given to different types of vehicles that have been diversified in recent years, for example, ordinary vehicles such as passenger cars, large vehicles such as trucks or buses, and RV (leisure beagle) vehicles such as four-wheel drive vehicles. In such a case, a phenomenon occurs in which the responsiveness of the hands differs for each vehicle type.

[0005] Generally, a passenger car has a running characteristic that an engine has a relatively small displacement and a light weight, so that it is possible to rapidly increase or decrease the number of revolutions of the engine or to rapidly accelerate or decelerate. This is because the engine has a relatively large displacement and a heavy vehicle weight, and thus has running characteristics in which it is difficult to rapidly increase or decrease the number of revolutions of the engine or suddenly accelerate or decelerate.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a needle-type display for a vehicle that can adjust the response characteristics of hands that differ for each vehicle type and can display the response characteristics suitable for the vehicle type. It is an object to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a pointer-type display device for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided with state information that changes with the state of the vehicle as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. In the vehicle pointer type display device configured to display the state information by updating the target designated position defined by the formula every predetermined time, and moving the pointer to the updated target designated position, Update time information holding means (34) for holding a plurality of update time information set for each type; update time information reading means (21a) for reading the update time information; And updating time information setting means (21b) for setting as a predetermined time when updating the target designated position, and the time for updating the target designated position is varied for each type of the vehicle. It is characterized by a door. (Claim 1)

The vehicle type information holding means (35) for holding vehicle type information indicating the type of the vehicle, and the update time information holding means (34) based on the vehicle type information held in the vehicle type information holding means (35). ) Includes an update time information selecting means (21c) for selecting one update time information from among the plurality of update time information held in (1). (Claim 2)

[0009] A state information acquisition means (21d) for acquiring travel speed information and engine rotation information of the vehicle as vehicle status information, and moving a pointer based on the travel speed information to display the travel speed of the vehicle. 1 information display means (4
2) and second information display means (4) for moving the hands based on the engine rotation information and displaying the engine speed.
3), and the update time information holding means (34) includes:
A first update time information holding unit (34a) for holding the update time information for displaying the speed information; and a second update time information holding unit (34b) for holding the update time information for displaying the engine rotation information. The time for updating the target indication position according to the first information display means (42) and the time for updating the target indication position according to the second information display means (43) can be set independently. And (Claim 3)

In the configuration of the first aspect, the update time information holding means (34) holds the update time information set for each vehicle type. The stored update time information is read by the update time information reading means (21a), and is set by the update time information setting means (21b) as a predetermined time for updating the target pointing position of the hands. That is, means for holding the update period of the target indicated position of the pointer is provided, and the target indicated position of the pointer is configured to be updated based on this update period. The pointer can be moved with a suitable response characteristic.

Further, in the configuration of claim 2, the update time information holding means (34) holds a plurality of update time information set for each vehicle type, and the vehicle type information holding means (35) holds the vehicle type information. . Then, the update time information selecting means (2
1c) selects one update time information from the plurality of update time information stored in the update time information storage means (34) based on the vehicle type information stored in the vehicle type information storage means (35). That is, a means for holding a plurality of update time information set for each vehicle type and a means for selecting one of the plurality of update time information according to the vehicle type information are provided. Is configured to be variable, the update cycle can be changed by providing vehicle type information, and the setting can be easily changed. Further, according to this configuration, a device for a plurality of vehicle types can be shared.

Further, in the configuration of the third aspect, the state information acquiring means (21d) acquires the traveling speed information and the engine rotation information of the vehicle as the state information of the vehicle, and the first information display means (42) transmits the traveling speed information. The second information display means (43) displays the running speed of the vehicle based on the information, and the number of revolutions of the engine based on the engine rotation information with the hands. The update time information holding means (34) holds the update time information for displaying the speed information and also holds the update time information for displaying the engine rotation information, and sets the target instruction according to the first information display means (42). The update time of the position and the update time of the target designated position according to the second information display means (43) are set independently.

That is, in an apparatus for individually displaying a plurality of pieces of display information relating to the state of a vehicle, the update time of the target pointing position in each display mechanism can be set independently. It can be set more finely.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a specific example according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input unit for inputting various information and the like, 2 is a control unit for controlling the apparatus, and 3 is a nonvolatile memory (hereinafter, referred to as a memory) storing information to be referred to by the control unit 2.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a display unit for displaying various information related to the vehicle.

The input section 1 is provided as a mechanism for inputting various kinds of information and the like as described above, and is generally composed of a power supply-related terminal group, various sensor-related terminal groups, and an operation switch. The power supply-related terminal group includes a power supply terminal (BATT +) 11 to which a power supply voltage from a battery (not shown) is supplied, and a ground potential GND.
A terminal 12 is provided. And this power supply terminal 1
The power supply voltage supplied via 1 is adjusted to a predetermined voltage via the regulator 11a and supplied to the control unit 2.

Further, as a group of terminals related to various sensors,
An ignition terminal 13 to which an ignition signal is input from an ignition switch (not shown) for controlling start / stop of the engine, and a travel pulse from a travel sensor (not shown) which outputs a travel pulse every time the vehicle travels a unit distance. A SP terminal 14 to which a signal is input, and a TA terminal 15 to which a pulse signal (engine rotation signal) proportional to the engine speed is input from an ignition coil (not shown) configured as one component of the engine ignition system. A FUEL terminal 16 provided in a fuel tank for receiving a fuel detection signal from a fuel sensor (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of fuel such as gasoline; and cooling water circulating in a radiator (not shown) for cooling the engine. TEM to which a water temperature signal from a water temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of
A P terminal 17 is provided.

The ignition terminal 13, the SP terminal 14, and the TA terminal 15 are provided with corresponding interface (I / F) circuits 13a to 13a, respectively, and the ignition signal is transmitted through these I / F circuits 13a to 15a. , The running pulse signal and the engine rotation signal are input to the control unit 2. Further, the FUEL terminal 16 and the TEM
The fuel detection signal and the water temperature signal from the P terminal 17 are input to the control unit 2 via the voltage dividing circuit 18.

The operation switches include information on the mileage of the vehicle and the total mileage (ODD) and the section mileage (TR).
A changeover switch 19 that is operated when switching to (IP) is provided.

The control section 2 comprises a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23. The CPU 21 functions as a so-called central control device that executes a predetermined processing operation according to an operation program, and receives various signals from the input unit 1 described above, a power supply voltage, and the like. This CPU
21 is provided with a plurality of drivers 24 to 28 provided corresponding to respective display mechanisms of the display unit 4 described later. The ROM 22 is configured as a storage unit in which an operation program of the CPU 21 and a prescribed value given in advance are stored.
It is referenced by the PU 21. The RAM 23 is a CPU 21
It is configured as a readable and writable storage means for temporarily holding necessary information during the operation of (1).

As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 23 has an update cycle holding area 231 for holding the update cycle of the designated angle which is the target designated position information of the pointer (described later) of the display mechanism of the display unit 4. An update cycle counter area 232 for timing, an indication angle holding area 233 for holding the above-mentioned indication angle (target indication position information), updated at each control position calculation cycle shorter than the update cycle, and at the time of the next control position calculation cycle Control angle holding area 234 for holding a control angle corresponding to the control position indicating the position indicated by the pointer, and average running pulse cycle holding area 23 for displaying the running speed information of the vehicle.
5. It is used as an engine speed information holding area 236 which is information on engine speed.

The average running pulse period holding area 2
The contents held in the area 35 and the engine speed information holding area 236 are successively updated, and the latest information, that is, the traveling speed information of the vehicle and the engine speed information at that time are always held. The RAM 23 is also provided with an area (neither is shown) in which fuel remaining amount information and cooling water temperature information are held. Then, of these areas, the update cycle holding area 231 and the update cycle counter area 2
32, designated angle holding area 233 and control angle holding area 2
Numeral 34 is provided as an independent area for displaying the traveling speed of the vehicle and for displaying the engine speed (octopus).

That is, the update cycle holding area 231 has a speed display area 231a and an octopus display area 231b.
The update cycle counter area 232 is an area 232 for speed display.
a and the designated angle holding region 2 in the octopus display region 232b.
33 is an area 233a for speed display and an area 2 for octopus display
The control angle holding area 234 is divided into a speed display area 234a and an octopus display area 234b.

The NVM 3 is configured as storage means for storing various table information and the like. And this N
The VM 3 is also divided into a plurality of areas, and as shown in FIG. 4, a part of the area holds the shake angle information that defines the relationship between the swing angle of the hands and the control amount of the control signal sent by the CPU 21. Angle information holding area 31, a mileage information holding area 32 for holding mileage information indicating the mileage of the vehicle,
A speed warning information holding area 33 for holding speed warning information defining a speed at which a speed warning is generated, an update cycle holding area 34 for holding an update cycle of the designated angle for each vehicle type, and a type of a vehicle on which the display device is mounted. It is used as a vehicle type information storage area 35 for storing vehicle type information.

The display unit 4 mainly displays the total travel distance (OD) of the vehicle.
D) or a liquid crystal display (L) that displays information about the mileage of the vehicle, such as a section mileage (TRIP).
CD) 41, a speedometer 42 for displaying vehicle speed information, a tachometer 43 for displaying the engine speed, and a fuel gauge 44 for displaying the remaining amount of fuel.
A water temperature gauge 45 for displaying the temperature of the cooling water of the radiator;

Then, of the display mechanisms of the display unit 4,
The speedometer 42, the tachometer 43, the fuel gauge 44, and the water temperature gauge 45 are provided with a pointer 4 of a display mechanism.
It is configured as a cross-coil type pointer type display device that performs display by rotating 2a to 45a by the magnetic field from the cross coils 42b to 45b. Each of these display mechanisms (LCD 41 to water temperature gauge 45) displays driving distance information, speed information, engine speed information, and the like according to a driving signal input via the corresponding driver 24 to 28 of the control unit 2. I do.

Hereinafter, the operation of the specific example having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the operation related to the speedometer and the tachometer as the pointer type display device will be described.

In this specific example, first, in step S1
At 00, an initial setting process is performed. In the initial setting process in step S100, initialization of each component device is performed. In the initial setting process, a process of setting a data update cycle of the speedometer and the tachometer, that is, a cycle for defining an interval at which the target pointing angle of the pointer is provided, is also performed.

Hereinafter, the process of setting the data update cycle will be described with reference to FIG. First, reference is made to FIG. The figure shows the update cycle holding area 231 of the RAM 23.
, The designated angle update cycle information stored in the update cycle storage area 34 of the NVM 3,
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating vehicle type information held in a vehicle type information holding area 35 of the NVM 3 in the same manner.

As the designated angle update cycle information of the update cycle holding area 34, data "A", "B" and "C" are held as designated angle update cycle information for speed, and the designated angle update for octopus is updated. Data "X" as cycle information,
“Y” and “Z” are held. The vehicle type information in the vehicle type information holding area 35 includes the vehicle type information “A” related to the data “A” to “C” and “X” to “Z”.
X, BZ, and CY are held. Note that the data “A” to “C” and “X” to “Z” are actually 5 ms, 10 ms,
The vehicle type information “AX” is given as numerical information such as 0 ms that defines a data update cycle corresponding to each vehicle type.
To "CY" are given as information specifying the above-described data, for example, address data.

The process of setting the data update time is executed by the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. That is, in this process, first, in step S2
At 10, the vehicle type information is read. More specifically, in this step S210, the vehicle type information holding area 35 of the NVM 3
Type information (“AX”, “BZ”, “C
Y ”).

Next, in step S220, update cycle information is selected. That is, in step S220, based on the vehicle type information read in step S210, the designated angle update cycle information ("A" to "A") held in the update cycle hold area 34a for speed and the update cycle hold area 34b for octopus is used. The corresponding update cycle information is selected from “C” and “X” to “Z”). For example, the above step S
When "AX" is read out as the vehicle type information at 210, the data "A" is read from the speed update cycle holding area 34a.
Is selected, and data “X” is selected from the octopus update cycle holding area 34b.

[0032] Then, the setting of update cycle instruction angle step S230 (T _A). This step S230
Then, the data in the update cycle holding area 34a for speed and the data in the update cycle holding area 34b for octopus selected in step S220 are stored in the update cycle holding area 2 in the RAM 23.
Set to 31. For example, in the case described above, N
The data “A” of the update cycle holding area 34 a for the speed of the VM 3 is stored in the update cycle holding area 231 for the speed of the RAM 23.
a, the update cycle holding area 34 for the octopus of the NVM 3
The data “X” of b is set in the octopus update cycle holding area 231 b of the RAM 23. And this step S23
The process of setting the update cycle information ends with the process of 0.

In the above description, "A"
The case of "X" has been described, but "B"
When "Z" is given, data "B" is selected from the update cycle holding area 34a for speed, and data "Z" is selected from the update cycle holding area 34b for octopus. The update cycle holding area 231a and the octopus update cycle holding area 231b are set. Also,
When "CY" is given as vehicle type information, data "C" and "Y" are similarly selected and set.

As described above, a plurality of update cycle information (“A”
To “C” and “X” to “Z”) are stored in the NVM 3 in advance, and the update cycle information is stored in the vehicle type information (“AX”
To "CY"), the update cycle can be set by providing vehicle type information, and the selection can be facilitated.

Also, since the update cycle information for different display mechanisms, such as speed information (speedometer) and engine rotation information (tachometer), is configured individually,
It is possible to make detailed settings according to the characteristics of the vehicle type.

By the way, in the illustrated configuration, the configuration in which the update cycle information held in the update cycle holding area 34 is selected by using the vehicle type information is exemplified. However, the update cycle holding of the NVM 3 is performed by using any writing means. The required update cycle information may be directly written in the area 34.

Then, the subsequent step S110 (FIG. 5)
At reference), it is determined whether the update cycle of the instruction angle (T _A) has reached a predetermined value. Specifically, this step S11
At 0, the update cycle holding area 231 of the RAM 23 (speed update cycle holding area 231a) in the step S100.
And the update cycle value of the designated angle held in the update cycle counter area 232 (the speed update cycle counter area 232).
A comparison is made with the count value of the update cycle of the designated angle held in a), and it is determined whether or not both values match. In addition,
The count value of the update cycle counter area 232 is
The count value is incremented every time a predetermined unit time elapses based on one operation clock or the like.

When both values are determined to be "match", that is, when the update cycle has been reached, the count value of the update cycle counter area 232 is reset to zero, and the process proceeds to the subsequent step S111. When both values are determined to be “non-match”, that is, when the update period has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S120. In addition,
In describing the processing of the subsequent steps S111 and S112, a case where the speed is displayed will be described here.
The case where the engine speed is displayed will be described later.

In step S111, the input cycle of the pulse signal PS, that is, the traveling speed of the vehicle is obtained based on the pulse signal from the traveling sensor. That is, in step S111, the average period T _S of the four latest pulse signals at the update cycle of the designated angle set in the initial setting process in step S100 described above is acquired. For example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
In T _{n + 1} when it reaches the update cycle of the instruction angle, input period or period of the pulse signal PS4~PS8 SP ₁₄
Is divided by 4 to obtain an average period of four periods calculated as an average period (T _S ).

The average period obtained in step S111 is calculated for each pulse signal input. That, CPU 21 calculates the average period by the input period or period SP ₁₁ of the pulse signal PS1~PS5 pulse signal PS5 is inputted, the pulse signal PS6
There is calculated the average period by the input period or period SP ₁₂ of the pulse signal PS2~PS6 is input.

[0041] Hereinafter, similarly, the period SP ₁₃ when the pulse signal PS7 is inputted, the period SP ₁₄ when the pulse signal PS8 is input, as such · · ·, CPU
Reference numeral 21 calculates the average period in the immediately preceding four periods each time a pulse signal is input. The CPU 21 calculates an average cycle every time a pulse signal is input, and stores the calculated latest average cycle in the average running pulse cycle holding area 235 of the RAM 23.

Then, in step S111, the area 235 at the point in time when the update cycle of the designated angle has elapsed.
Is acquired as the average period of the pulse signal. After acquiring the average period of the traveling pulse PS in this way, the process proceeds to the subsequent step S112.

In step S112, the above-mentioned step S1
A speed of the vehicle is calculated based on the average period of the pulse signal acquired at 11, and an indicated angle of the pointer 12 corresponding to the calculated speed is calculated. That is, step S11
In step 2, based on the swing angle information of the hands held in the swing angle information holding area 31a for the speed of the NVM 3 and the swing angle information holding area 31b for the octopus, and the average period of the pulse signal acquired in step S111. To calculate the deflection angle of the pointer, that is, the designated angle. Then, the calculated designated angle is stored in the designated angle holding area 233 (speed designated angle holding area 233a, octopus designated angle holding area 233b) of the RAM 23, and the process proceeds to step S120.

The above steps S110 to S11
In the process of No. 2, the updating process of the speed information displayed by the speedometer 42 has been described, but the updating process of the engine rotation information displayed by the tachometer 43 is also performed by the same process. That is, in this case, first, it is determined whether or not the octopus update cycle has been reached based on the octopus update cycle holding area 231b and the update cycle counter area 232b of the RAM 23 (corresponding to step S110). (“Y” in step S110)
After resetting the count value of the update cycle counter area 232b to zero, the engine speed information at that time is acquired based on the content held in the engine speed information holding area 236 of the RAM 23 (steps S111 and S1).
12).

Then, the above steps S110 to S1
As is apparent from the description of FIG. 12, in this specific example, the update period information of the target pointing angle (position) of the pointer is held in the NVM 3 as the information holding means, and the target pointing position of the pointer is updated based on this update period. Therefore, it is possible to set an update cycle suitable for a vehicle type.

In the following step S120, the designated angle calculated in step S112 and C
The angle of the pointer recognized by the PU 21, that is, the difference angle from the current designated angle is calculated. And the following step S1
In step S21, the RAM 23 calculated in step S112 is used.
Using the designated angle of the pointer held in the designated angle holding area 233, a new control angle, that is, a movement angle of the pointer is calculated based on a predetermined arithmetic expression. Then, step S12
Move to 2. In step S122, this step S
The new control angle calculated in 121 is stored in the control angle holding area 234 of the RAM 23, and the process proceeds to step S130.

In step S130, the above step S1
The pointer is driven based on the control angle calculated at 21 and stored at step S122. That is, a control signal corresponding to the control angle is output from the CPU 21 to the display unit 4 (the speedometer 42 and the tachometer 43). And
When the driving operation of the hands in step S130 is completed,
The process proceeds to step S110, and a series of operations is repeatedly executed.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, the vehicle pointer type display device of the present invention has the following effects. That is, means for holding the update period of the target indicated position of the pointer is provided, and the target indicated position of the pointer is configured to be updated based on this update period. The pointer can be moved with a suitable response characteristic.

Further, a means for holding a plurality of update time information set for each vehicle type and a means for selecting one of the plurality of update time information according to the vehicle type information are provided. Since the configuration is such that the update cycle for updating the target designated position is variable, the update cycle can be changed by giving the vehicle type information, the setting can be easily changed, and for a plurality of vehicle types, The device can be shared.

Further, in the device for individually displaying a plurality of display information relating to the state of the vehicle, the update time of the target pointing position in each display mechanism can be set independently, so that the update cycle suitable for the type of vehicle can be set. It can be set more finely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a specific example according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the contents held in a RAM 23;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing the contents held in NVM3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a specific example.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram and a flowchart for explaining a data update cycle setting process.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of updating a designated angle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input unit 2 Control unit 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 231 Update cycle holding area 232 Update cycle counter area 233 Pointing angle holding area 234 Control angle holding area 235 Average running pulse cycle holding area 236 Engine speed information holding area 3 Non-volatile memory ( NVM) 31 Swing angle information holding area 32 Travel distance information holding area 33 Speed warning information holding area 34 Update time information holding area 35 Vehicle type information holding area 4 Display unit 42 Speedometer (first information display means) 43 Tachometer (Second information) Display means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01D 13/22 101 G01R 5/16

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A target pointing position defined by state information that changes according to a state of a vehicle is updated every predetermined time, and the state information is displayed by moving a pointer to the updated target pointing position. In the pointer display device for a vehicle configured as described above, an update time information holding unit that holds a plurality of update time information set for each type of the vehicle, an update time information reading unit that reads the update time information, and the reading. Update time information setting means for setting the update time information as a predetermined time when updating the target designated position, wherein the time for updating the target designated position is varied for each type of the vehicle. A pointer-type display device for a vehicle, comprising: 2. A vehicle type information holding unit that holds vehicle type information indicating a type of the vehicle, based on the vehicle type information held by the vehicle type information holding unit.
2. The vehicle pointer according to claim 1, further comprising: update time information selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of update time information held by the update time information holding means. Type display device. 3. State information acquiring means for acquiring traveling speed information and engine rotation information of the vehicle as vehicle state information; and first information display for moving a pointer based on the traveling speed information and displaying the traveling speed of the vehicle. Means, and second information display means for moving a pointer based on the engine rotation information and displaying the number of revolutions of the engine, wherein the update time information holding means holds update time information for displaying the speed information. A first update time information holding unit for storing update time information for displaying engine rotation information, and a second update time information holding unit for holding the update time information for displaying the engine rotation information. 3. The vehicle pointer type display device according to claim 1, wherein a time for updating the target pointing position according to the second information display means can be set independently.