JP3591535B2 - Display device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that inputs a state signal indicating a vehicle state, obtains a measured amount according to the vehicle state, and performs display based on the measured amount.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle display device for displaying various running states of a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a vehicle state) such as a vehicle speed, an engine speed, a water temperature, and a hydraulic pressure, for example, a VFD (fluorescent display tube) panel, a liquid crystal panel, or an organic EL panel (Electroluminescence) Light emitting display means such as a panel is provided on a dashboard of a vehicle, and display light from the light emitting display means is directed to a user's line of sight by a windshield or a combiner provided on the windshield. There is known a head-up display that reflects a reflected image to display a virtual image indicating the vehicle state.
[0003]
In such a vehicle display device, in order to improve the visibility, the brightness in front of the vehicle, which is the background of the virtual image, is detected by an optical sensor (light detection unit), and the light emission display unit detects the brightness based on the detection result. There is one that adjusts light emission luminance (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-61-42333 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such a display device for a vehicle, for example, obtains brightness data indicating ambient brightness based on a detection signal detected by the light detection unit, and adjusts light emission luminance of the light emitting display unit based on the brightness data. By determining the output value of the dimming signal for performing the adjustment, the light emission luminance of the light emitting display means is automatically adjusted according to the surrounding brightness. However, since the brightness adjustment characteristic including the relationship between the brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal is predetermined in the storage unit of the control unit including the microcomputer, the brightness adjustment characteristic is adjusted, for example, at night. There is a problem that the light emission luminance that is automatically adjusted does not always coincide with the light emission luminance desired by the user, for example, the light emission luminance is felt dazzling to the user. As a method for solving this problem, a light control switch for adjusting the light emission luminance of the light-emitting display means is provided. Although the method of adjusting the light emission luminance by the method described above is conceivable, this method is insufficient as a function of automatically adjusting the light emission luminance of the light emitting display means.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and can automatically adjust the light emission luminance of the light-emitting display means according to the surrounding brightness, and emit light according to the user's preference. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular display device that can be adjusted by using the display device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a light-emitting display unit that displays a vehicle state, a light detection unit that detects ambient brightness, and a detection result of the light detection unit. Calculating brightness data, and performing the light emission based on one of at least two brightness adjustment characteristics including a relationship between the brightness data and output value data of a dimming signal for adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emitting display means. Control means for adjusting the emission brightness of the display means, and setting means for selecting the brightness adjustment characteristics, the control means includes a storage unit for storing a reference brightness adjustment characteristics as the brightness adjustment characteristics, The brightness data is converted into other brightness data by a predetermined arithmetic processing according to a predetermined input from the setting unit, and the surroundings are converted based on the other brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal. Dark The relationship between the reference brightness control characteristic and the brightness data as compared with the output value data of the dimming signal, characterized by comprising generating other different brightness adjusting properties when.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a head-up display for a vehicle will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows an electric configuration of a vehicle head-up display (vehicle display device) 1 for displaying a running speed (vehicle speed) and an engine speed of a vehicle as a vehicle state. 3, a setting unit 4, a control unit 5, and a light-emitting display unit 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle head-up display 1 is provided above the dashboard 10 of the vehicle, and the transmitted light from the light emitting display means 6 is output to the windshield 11 of the vehicle, and the transmitted light is The light is reflected in the direction of the user 12 by the surface of the windshield 11. With this configuration, the user can observe the display image indicating the vehicle state as a virtual image by superimposing it on the scenery. Preferably, the windshield 11 is provided with a reflecting member such as a combiner film (semi-transmissive film) so that the display image is easily reflected on the user 12 side.
[0013]
The input means 2 includes a signal line 2a for inputting a pulse signal (TA pulse) from an ignition coil, and a speed sensor (SP sensor) 2b for detecting a vehicle speed.
[0014]
The light detecting means 3 is, for example, electrically connected to the control means 5 and comprises a phototransistor for detecting the brightness of the surroundings. The light detecting means 3 is disposed near the windshield 11 and detects light received by the light detecting means 3. The output signal to be output to the control means 5 is varied depending on the strength.
[0015]
The setting means 4 includes a plurality of switches, and selects or determines a brightness adjustment characteristic in a brightness adjustment function described later.
[0016]
The control means 5 comprises a microcomputer which operates based on a predetermined program, inputs each state signal corresponding to each vehicle state from the input means 2, and performs output processing for display of the light emitting display means 6. Input / output port (input / output circuit), a ROM storing a processing program for controlling the display mode of the light-emitting display means 6 and the like, a CPU for executing predetermined arithmetic processing and performing predetermined processing, and performing arithmetic processing And a RAM for temporarily storing data for controlling the light emission display means 6 based on the state signal from the input means 2. The control unit 5 inputs each of the state signals to the input port, calculates each measurement value indicating the vehicle state by performing a predetermined arithmetic process, and generates a processing signal corresponding to the obtained measurement value. The light is output from the output port to the light-emitting display means 6 via the drive circuit 6a. Further, the control means 5 includes a first brightness adjustment characteristic (reference brightness), which will be described in detail later, comprising a relationship between the brightness data and output value data of a light control signal for adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emission display means 6. After adjusting the light emission luminance of the light emitting display means 6 by determining the output value of the dimming signal by using the data table to determine the output value of the dimming signal. Has a brightness adjustment function which will be described in detail later.
[0017]
The control unit 5 switches between the first brightness adjustment characteristic A and the second brightness adjustment characteristic (other brightness adjustment characteristics) B shown in FIG. It has a function of adjusting light emission luminance. Incidentally, the second luminance adjusting characteristic B, as shown in FIG. 3, drives a light-emitting display device 6 at high luminance than the first luminance adjustment characteristic A when the ambient is dark, i.e. the dimming signal Output value data has a high value . In the present embodiment, the value of the brightness data increases when the surroundings are dark. The control unit 5 reads out the output value data of the dimming signal from the data table based on the brightness data when the first brightness adjustment characteristic A is selected by a predetermined input from the setting unit 4. Then, an output value corresponding to the first brightness adjustment characteristic A is determined by predetermined arithmetic processing, and the dimming signal is output to the light emitting display means 6. When the second brightness adjustment characteristic B is selected by a predetermined input from the setting means 4, the control means 5 converts the brightness data into another brightness data by a predetermined arithmetic processing, A second brightness adjustment characteristic B is generated by reading out the output value data of the dimming signal from the data table based on other brightness data, and a predetermined arithmetic processing is performed from the read out output value data. An output value of the dimming signal is determined, and the dimming signal is output to the light emitting display unit 6. By generating a second luminance adjustment characteristic B from the other brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal provided in the data table, the data table common to the first luminance adjustment characteristic A The light emission luminance of the light emitting display means 6 is adjusted based on the second luminance adjustment characteristic B different from the first luminance adjustment characteristic A in a relationship between the brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal. It is possible to do.
[0018]
The light emitting display means 6 is composed of a VFD (fluorescent display tube) panel, is driven and controlled by inputting a drive signal output from the control means 5 through a drive circuit 6a, and displays the display image indicating the vehicle state. Is what you do. As shown in FIG. 4, the light emission display means 6 includes a digital display 6b for displaying the vehicle speed, a scale display 6c for displaying the scale of the engine speed, and a plurality of bars indicating the engine speed along the scale. A bar display section 6d for displaying, a first unit display section 6e for indicating a unit of vehicle speed (km / h), and a second unit display section 6f for indicating a unit of engine speed (× 1000 RPM) are provided. The display images are formed by the display lights of the portions 6b to 6f. Note that a segment display method is used for each of the display units 6b to 6f. Note that a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel or the like may be used as the light emitting display means, and a dot matrix display method may be used as a display method.
[0019]
The vehicle head-up display 1 is configured by the above-described units.
[0020]
Next, the brightness adjusting function of the control means 5 in the head-up display 1 for a vehicle will be described with reference to FIG.
[0021]
The control means 5 receives the detection signal from the light detection means (Step S1), and samples the brightness data calculated by a predetermined calculation process at a predetermined cycle (Step S2). Then, the control means 5 determines which of the first and second brightness adjustment characteristics A and B is selected based on the presence or absence of the setting input of the setting means 4 (step S3), and performs the first brightness adjustment. If it is determined that the characteristic A has been selected, the output value data of the dimming signal is read out from the data table based on the sampled brightness data, and is subjected to arithmetic processing, and the first luminance adjustment characteristic is obtained. An output value of the dimming signal according to A is determined (step S4). Next, the control means 5 outputs the dimming signal to the light emission display means 6 with the determined output value (step S5). If it is determined in step S3 that the second brightness adjustment characteristic B has been selected, the control means 5 converts the other brightness data from the sampled brightness data by a predetermined calculation process. (Step S6), the output value data of the dimming signal is read out from the data table based on the other brightness data, and is subjected to arithmetic processing. The output value is determined (Step S7). Next, the control means 5 outputs the light control signal to the light emission display means 6 with the determined output value (step S8).
[0022]
When the control unit 5 automatically adjusts the light emission luminance of the light emission display means 6 based on the brightness data from the light detection means 3, the vehicle head-up display 1 uses the first and second luminances. The emission characteristics are adjusted by arbitrarily switching the adjustment characteristics A and B. Further, it has a setting means 4 for switching the first and second brightness adjustment characteristics A and B. In the vehicular head-up display 1 having the above-described configuration, the luminous brightness of the luminous display means 6 can be automatically adjusted according to the brightness of the surroundings, and the user can increase the number of options of the luminance adjustment characteristics to increase the number of options. It is possible to adjust the light emission luminance according to the user's preference.
[0023]
The head-up display 1 for a vehicle provides the control unit 5 with a first brightness adjustment characteristic comprising a relationship between the brightness data and output value data of a dimming signal for adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emission display means 6. A storage unit for storing a data table indicating the light emission luminance of the light emission display means 6 based on the brightness data when the first luminance adjustment characteristic A is selected by the setting input of the setting means 4. When the second brightness adjustment characteristic B is selected by the setting input of the setting means 4, the brightness data is converted into the other brightness data by a predetermined arithmetic processing, and the other brightness data is converted. A second luminance adjustment characteristic B is generated from the data and the output value data of the dimming signal provided in the data table to adjust the light emission luminance of the light emission display means 6. With the above configuration, the vehicle head-up display 1 uses the single data table to control the relationship between the brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal by the control unit 5. The light emission luminance of the light emission display means 6 can be adjusted by switching the second luminance adjustment characteristics A and B, and the luminance adjustment characteristics can be switched with a small amount of data. Therefore, the vehicle head-up display 1 does not need to provide an expensive storage unit having a large storage capacity, and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the vehicle display device.
[0024]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the above-described vehicle head-up display 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration has a similar effect. Any structure may be used as long as the display image is not displayed on the front glass surface, but a dedicated reflecting member is provided. Further, instead of the head-up display for a vehicle, a display device for a vehicle including a light emitting display panel or a pointer-type instrument installed on a dashboard may be used. In the case of a pointer-type instrument, a pointer or a display plate illuminated by a lighting unit such as a bulb or an LED serves as a light emitting display unit.
[0025]
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first and second brightness adjustment characteristics A and B are switched to adjust the emission brightness of the light emitting display means 6, but three or more brightness adjustment characteristics are switched. The light emission luminance of the light emission display means may be adjusted by using the light emission display means.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that inputs a state signal indicating a vehicle state, obtains a measurement amount according to the vehicle state, and performs display based on the measurement amount, and according to ambient brightness. As a result, the light emission luminance of the light emission display means can be automatically adjusted, and the light emission luminance can be adjusted according to the user's preference.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of a vehicular head-up display according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a luminance adjustment characteristic of the control unit according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a light-emitting display unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display image of a light-emitting display unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing method of a control unit according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Vehicle head-up display (vehicle display device)
2 input means 3 light detection means 4 setting means 5 control means 6 light emission display means

Claims (1)

Light emission display means for displaying a vehicle state, light detection means for detecting surrounding brightness, brightness data is calculated from the detection result of the light detection means, and the brightness data and the light emission luminance of the light emission display means are calculated. Control means for adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emitting display means based on at least one of at least two brightness adjustment characteristics having a relationship with output value data of a light control signal for adjustment, and setting for selecting the brightness adjustment characteristic Means,
The control unit includes a storage unit that stores a reference brightness adjustment characteristic as the brightness adjustment characteristic, and converts the brightness data into another brightness data by a predetermined calculation process according to a predetermined input from the setting unit. Then, based on the other brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal, when the surroundings are dark, the brightness data and the output value data of the dimming signal are compared with the reference brightness adjustment characteristic. A display device for a vehicle, characterized by generating another luminance adjustment characteristic having a different relationship with the vehicle.

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