JP5018627B2 - Vehicle status display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle state display device that is mounted on a vehicle and displays the state of the mounted vehicle.

  The vehicle is provided with a vehicle display device for displaying a vehicle state quantity such as a traveling speed of the vehicle and an engine speed to the driver. In general, a rotary analog instrument that rotates a pointer according to a detected vehicle state quantity or a digital instrument that displays a number corresponding to the detected vehicle state quantity is used for the vehicle display device.

  Compared with a digital instrument, the rotary analog instrument has an advantage that it is easy to recognize a change amount of a vehicle state variable that changes every moment. However, a rotary analog instrument requires a large display surface to rotate the pointer.

Therefore, by using a reflecting portion that reflects the indicator member in the vicinity of the indicator member that moves in parallel, the indicator member that moves in parallel is projected onto a strip-shaped display space, thereby instructing the projected indicator member to rotate on the display space. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, even when only a strip-like elongated space can be taken as a display surface, it is possible to display with a rotation instruction having excellent visibility.
JP 7-108855 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the rotation mechanism for translating the indicating member and the fluorescent lamp for projecting the indicating member on the display space are used, the volume of the entire display device is very large. There was a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the volume of the entire device in a vehicle state display device that displays a vehicle state using a strip-like elongated display surface.

  In the vehicle state display device according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the above object, a visible light laser irradiation means for irradiating a visible light laser, and a reflection for reflecting the visible light laser emitted by the visible light laser irradiation means. A laser scanning unit having a mirror and scanning the visible light laser along a predetermined scanning direction determined by a rotation direction of the predetermined rotation axis by swinging the reflecting mirror around a predetermined rotation axis set in advance; Is provided. Further, the vehicle state quantity information acquisition means acquires the vehicle state quantity information that is information indicating the quantity instruction vehicle state, with the state that can be expressed by the quantity among the vehicle states as the quantity instruction vehicle state. Then, the display control means has a length corresponding to the quantity indicating the vehicle state quantity indicated by the vehicle state quantity information acquired by the vehicle state quantity information acquisition means, and extends in the predetermined scanning direction. In order to display an image, at least one of the timing of irradiation of the visible light laser by the visible light laser irradiation unit and the scanning range of the visible light laser by the laser scanning unit is controlled.

  According to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect configured as described above, the visible light laser irradiation unit may irradiate the visible light laser toward one point of the reflecting mirror and irradiate the laser light over a wide range. There is no need. For this reason, compared with the display apparatus of patent document 1 provided with the fluorescent lamp for irradiating light over the whole display space, the apparatus for irradiating light can be reduced in size.

  Furthermore, according to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect, the rotation mechanism for displaying the first belt-like image may be provided with a mechanism that simply swings the reflecting mirror about the predetermined rotation axis. For this reason, compared with the display apparatus of patent document 1 provided with the rotation mechanism for moving an instruction | indication member in parallel, a rotation mechanism can be reduced in size.

As described above, the vehicle state display device according to claim 1 can reduce the volume of the entire device as compared with the display device described in Patent Document 1.
Further, according to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect, since the first belt-like image is displayed by irradiating the visible light laser, the first belt-like image is displayed at any place in the vehicle such as a windshield or a dashboard. Can be projected.

  According to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect, the vehicle state amount can be identified by the length of the first belt-like image extending along the predetermined scanning direction. For this reason, it becomes easier for the driver of the vehicle to grasp the vehicle state quantity even in the peripheral vision as compared with the case where the vehicle state quantity is instructed using a thin single-line pointer.

  In the vehicle state display device according to the first aspect, a belt-like image (first belt-like image) extending along the predetermined scanning direction is displayed. Therefore, when displaying the first belt-like image on the windshield, the predetermined scanning direction is set to the horizontal direction of the windshield, and the first belt-like image is projected below the windshield, so that the driver of the vehicle The vehicle state can be displayed without disturbing the forward view.

In the vehicle state display device according to claim 1, drive both the state quantity information acquisition unit acquires vehicle state quantity information for at least two quantities indicated vehicle condition, display control means, as a first strip-shaped image, Each of the two quantity indicating vehicle states acquired by the vehicle state quantity information acquisition means has a length corresponding to the amount of the quantity indicating vehicle state indicated by the vehicle state quantity information, and extends in a predetermined scanning direction. displaying the second strip-shaped image and the third strip image.

According to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect configured as described above, two quantity indicating vehicle states can be simultaneously displayed by the second belt image and the third belt image.
Here, the second belt-like image is formed so that the display control means connects the second belt-like image and the third belt-like image at the end portion to form one belt-like fourth belt-like image extending along the predetermined scanning direction. When displaying the image and the third belt-like image, the position of the central portion along the predetermined scanning direction in the fourth belt-like image according to the length along the predetermined scanning direction of the second belt-like image and the third belt-like image Fluctuates.

  For this reason, a scanning angle range that scans clockwise around a predetermined rotation axis with the scanning angle center as a starting point, and a scanning angle that is the center of the scanning range that can be scanned by the laser scanning means, and scanning In the case of using a laser scanning unit having the same scanning angle range that scans counterclockwise starting from the corner center, the fourth method is a method of continuously irradiating the visible light laser and varying the scanning range of the laser scanning unit. The band image cannot be displayed.

Therefore, in the vehicle status display device according to claim 1, the scanning angle around the scan angle as the center of the scanning range can be scanned by Les chromatography The scanning means, reflective mirror when it is in the direction of the scan angle center A scanning angle center moving means for moving the scanning center direction along the rotation direction of the predetermined rotation axis, and the scanning angle center movement control means is a reflecting mirror when the scanning angle center direction is in the direction of the scanning angle center. The direction of the scanning center is moved by the scanning angle center moving means so that the reflected visible light laser reaches the center along the predetermined scanning direction in the fourth strip image.

According to the vehicle state display device of the first aspect configured as described above, the visible light laser reflected by the reflecting mirror at the center of the scanning angle is along the predetermined scanning direction in the fourth strip image. Therefore, the scanning range for drawing one side across the center of the fourth belt-like image is equal to the scanning range for drawing the other side. For this reason, even when the belt scanning image is displayed by continuously irradiating the laser scanning unit with the visible light laser and changing the scanning range of the laser scanning unit, the lengths of the second strip image and the third strip image are displayed. A fourth belt-like image whose length changes according to the length can be displayed.

The meter panel of the vehicle, since generally the vehicle speed and the engine speed is displayed, the vehicle status display device according to claim 1, as claimed in claim 2, the two quantities indicated vehicle state, It is good to make it the driving speed and engine speed of the vehicle in which the vehicle state display device is mounted.

In the vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, as claimed in claim 3, the laser scanning unit, the light produced by utilizing a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology It may be a scanning device. According to the vehicle state display device configured as described above, the laser scanning unit can be further reduced in size, so that the volume of the entire device can be further reduced.

Further, in the vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , as described in claim 4 , the display control means has a large scanning angle range in which the visible light laser is scanned by the laser scanning means. It is better to increase the output of the visible light laser irradiated by the visible light laser irradiation means. According to the vehicle state display apparatus thus configured, either as a range of the scanning angle increases the first strip-shaped display luminance also claims 1 can be inhibited from reduction in image 4 In the vehicle state display device according to claim 5 , as described in claim 5 , the visible light laser scanned by the laser scanning unit is diffused and irradiated toward the windshield of the vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted. The windshield includes a character for indicating a correspondence relationship between the length of the first belt-like image and the amount of the quantity indicating vehicle state in a region adjacent to the region where the first belt-like image is displayed. You may make it provide the 1st character display area which formed the scale with the half mirror.

  In the vehicle state display device configured as described above, light incident from the outside of the vehicle toward the windshield passes through the half mirror and enters the vehicle. For this reason, when the laser beam is not irradiated to the 1st character display area, the character and scale of the 1st character display area are not visually recognized by a driver, but it suppresses disturbing a driver's field of view. On the other hand, when the visible light laser diffused by the diffusing unit is applied to the first character display area, the visible light laser applied to the half mirror is reflected by the half mirror. For this reason, the characters and scales in the first character display area are displayed. That is, when displaying a 1st strip | belt-shaped image, the character and scale of a 1st character display area can be displayed. As shown in FIG. 17A, when the visible light laser is irradiated to the half mirror of the first character display area without being diffused by the diffusing means, scanning is performed toward the vicinity of the end of the first character display area. The visible light laser RL1 scanned by the means SC and then reflected by the half mirror HM proceeds in a direction away from the driver DR positioned facing the first character display area. For this reason, the driver DR cannot visually recognize characters and scales near the end of the first character display area.

  On the other hand, when irradiating the half mirror of the first character display area after diffusing the visible light laser with the diffusing means, as shown in FIG. 17B, scanning is performed toward the vicinity of the end of the first character display area. Since the visible light laser scanned by the means SC is scattered in various directions by being diffused by the diffusing means DF, a part of the visible light laser reflected by the half mirror HM reaches the driver DR (visible). (See optical laser RL2). For this reason, the driver DR can visually recognize characters and scales near the end of the first character display area.

Further, in the vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , as described in claim 6 , the laser scanning means is directed toward the windshield of the vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted. A character that scans the visible light laser and shows the correspondence between the length of the first belt image and the amount of the quantity indicating vehicle state in the region adjacent to the region where the first belt image is displayed. And a scale having a second character display region formed of a transparent photochromic material that is colored in the color of visible light irradiated thereafter by irradiation with ultraviolet light, and ultraviolet light toward the second character display region And ultraviolet light irradiating means for irradiating visible light toward the second character display area.

  In the vehicle state display device configured in this way, since the photochromic material is transparent, when the second character display area is not irradiated with ultraviolet light and visible light, the characters and scales in the second character display area are This prevents the driver from seeing and obstructing the driver's view. On the other hand, the ultraviolet light irradiating means irradiates the second character display area with ultraviolet light, and then the visible light irradiating means irradiates the second character display area with visible light. Characters and tick marks are displayed. That is, it is possible to display characters and scales in the second character display area when displaying the first strip image.

  Note that when the photochromic material is colored by irradiation with ultraviolet light and visible light, the color colored on the photochromic material gradually disappears as time passes. For this reason, before the color of the photochromic material disappears, it is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet light and visible light again toward the second character display region. Since the laser scanning unit is used also when displaying the first strip image, when the laser scanning unit is used to irradiate ultraviolet light and visible light toward the second character display area, the first strip strip is used. It is desirable not to disturb the display of the image.

  Further, when the accessory power supply of the vehicle is turned on, it is highly likely that the vehicle will start to travel thereafter. Therefore, before the vehicle starts traveling, the characters and scales in the second character display area are displayed. It is desirable to display it.

Therefore, in the vehicle state display device according to claim 6 , as described in claim 7 , the ultraviolet light irradiating means is used when an accessory power supply of a vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted is turned on, or The irradiation may be performed when it is not necessary to display the first strip image.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle display device 1 according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle LAN 20 to which the vehicle display device 1 is connected. FIG. The figure which shows arrangement | positioning in the vehicle of the component of the display apparatus 1, FIG.2 (b) is a front view of the windshield WS which shows the structure of display area DR1, FIG.3 (a) is a perspective view which shows the front of the scanner 3. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the back surface of the scanner 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle display device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and an engine rotation sensor 11 that detects an engine speed and a vehicle speed sensor 12 that detects a traveling speed (vehicle speed) of the vehicle via an in-vehicle LAN 20. Connected with.

  The vehicle display device 1 includes a laser diode 2 that emits visible laser light, a scanner 3 that scans the laser light emitted by the laser diode 2, and a motor that is driven when the orientation of the entire scanner 3 is changed. 4, an in-vehicle LAN communication unit 5 for exchanging various vehicle information with in-vehicle devices such as the engine rotation sensor 11 and the vehicle speed sensor 12 through the in-vehicle LAN 20, a laser diode 2, a scanner 3, a motor 4, and an in-vehicle LAN communication unit 5. And a display control ECU 10 for controlling the control.

  Among these, the laser diode 2 is installed in the dashboard DB as shown in FIG. The laser diode 2 emits laser light having a spot diameter SP0 (see FIG. 4B) equal to the length of the short side of a rectangular laser irradiation region IR1 (described later).

  The scanner 3 is installed in the dashboard DB. The scanner 3 passes the laser beam L1 irradiated by the laser diode 2 through the opening OP (see FIG. 2B) provided on the upper surface P1 of the dashboard DB, and is a windshield which is a front window of the vehicle. Scanning is performed toward the display region DR1 provided below the WS.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the display region DR1 corresponds to a laser irradiation region IR1 in which a horizontally long rectangle is drawn on the windshield WS and the laser beam L1 is irradiated inside the rectangle, and a scale and a scale. It consists of a scale display area SR1 in which numbers are drawn on the windshield WS.

  The right half HR1 of the display area DR1 is an area for displaying the engine speed, and the left half HL1 is an area for displaying the vehicle speed. A scale “0” is drawn in the center CR1 of the scale display region SR1. Furthermore, a number corresponding to the scale is drawn so that the engine speed increases as it approaches the right end RR1 from the center CR1 of the scale display area SR1, and as it approaches the left end LR1 from the center CR1 of the scale display area SR1. Numbers corresponding to the scales are drawn so that the vehicle speed increases. The dotted rectangle in FIG. 2B is for indicating the scale display region SR1, and is not drawn on the windshield WS.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the scanner 3 includes a reflecting mirror 31 that reflects laser light, a swinging support portion 33 that supports the reflecting mirror 31 so as to be swingable about a rotating shaft 32, and a rotating shaft. The rotary shaft 34 is coaxially attached to the rotary shaft 32 and rotatably supports the support portion 33.

  The scanner 3 is manufactured using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology. In other words, the reflecting mirror 31 and the swing support part 33 are connected by the elastically deformable rotating shaft 32, and by generating an electrostatic attractive force between the reflecting mirror 31 and the swing support part 33, the reflecting mirror 31 31 is swung around the rotation shaft 32 (see arrow Y1).

The scanning angle when the plane 31a that forms the reflecting mirror 31 and the plane 33a that forms the swing support portion 33 are parallel to each other is 0 °.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the gear 4 a attached to the output shaft of the motor 4 and the gear 34 a attached to the rotating shaft 34 are fitted. For this reason, with the rotation of the motor 4, the reflecting mirror 31 and the swing support part 33 rotate around the rotation shaft 34 (see arrow Y2).

  Next, the display control ECU 10 always irradiates the laser diode 2 with the laser light L1. The display control ECU 10 then scans the scanner 3 according to the engine speed calculated based on the detection signal from the engine speed sensor 11 and the vehicle speed calculated based on the detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 12. By changing the offset angle OS (see arrow Y4) and the offset angle OS (see arrow Y4), the vehicle speed and the engine speed are displayed in the display area DR1. The display control ECU 10 changes the scanning drive voltage applied between the reflecting mirror 31 and the swinging support portion 33 in order to generate an electrostatic attraction force that swings the reflecting mirror 31, thereby changing the scanning angle. The range θ3 is set.

  Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the scanning angle range θ1 necessary for drawing a belt-like image BP1 (see FIG. 4 (b)) displaying the vehicle speed with a laser beam, and the engine The sum with the scanning angle range θ2 necessary for drawing the belt-like image BP2 (see FIG. 4B) displaying the number of rotations with the laser beam is defined as a scanning angle range θ3 scanned by the scanner 3. In the scanning by the scanner 3, the scanning angle range in which the scanning is performed clockwise around the rotation shaft 32 is equal to the scanning angle range in which the scanning is performed counterclockwise. That is, the display control ECU 10 sets the range of scan angles that can be scanned to “(θ3) / 2” clockwise and “(θ3) / 2” counterclockwise starting from the scan angle of 0 °. Set as follows.

  Therefore, the scanner 3 needs to perform scanning with a scanning angle that is half of the scanning angle range θ3 as the center of the scanning angle range (see the straight line CL1) (that is, the scanning angle 0 ° coincides with the straight line CL1). For this purpose, the display control ECU 10 drives the motor 4 to scan the reflecting mirror 31 and the swing support part 33 when the scanning angle range θ1 is equal to the scanning angle range θ2 with the rotation shaft 34 as the center. From the center of the corner (see the straight line CL0), the offset angle OS expressed by the equation (1) is rotated (see the swing support portion 33 described by the dotted line).

OS = (θ1-θ2) / 2 (1)
As a result, the laser beam reflected by the reflecting mirror 31 having a scanning angle of 0 ° is a band-shaped image BP0 in which the band-shaped image BP1 displaying the vehicle speed and the band-shaped image BP2 displaying the engine speed are connected at the respective end portions. It reaches the central portion CP in the scanning direction SD (see the straight line CL1).

  Then, the laser diode 2 is continuously irradiated with laser light, and the scanner 3 is started with a scanning angle of 0 ° as a starting point, “(θ3) / 2” clockwise and “(θ3) / 2” counterclockwise. As shown in FIG. 4B, the band-like image BP0 is displayed in the laser irradiation region IR1. The display width DW0 of the strip image BP0 is the sum of the display width DW1 of the strip image BP1 and the display width DW2 of the strip image BP2.

  Further, the display control ECU 10 increases the output of the laser light L1 irradiated by the laser diode 2 as the scanning angle range θ3 scanned by the scanner 3 increases. This is control for preventing the display brightness of the strip-like image BP0 from being lowered because the laser beam L1 is dispersed when the scanning angle range θ3 of the scanner 3 is increased.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, a belt-like image BP11 showing that the vehicle speed is 40 km / h and the engine speed is 2000 rpm, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the engine is used at a vehicle speed of 80 km / h. The case where the strip image BP12 indicating that the rotation speed is 4000 rpm is displayed is compared. Here, the display width DW12 of the strip image BP12 in FIG. 5B is larger than the display width DW11 of the strip image BP11 in FIG. That is, the scanning angle for displaying the strip image BP12 in FIG. 5B is larger than the scanning angle for displaying the strip image BP11 in FIG. Therefore, when the outputs of the laser beams L1 are equal, the display brightness of the strip image BP12 in FIG. 5B is smaller than the display brightness of the strip image BP11 in FIG. 5A (FIGS. 5A and 5B). ) (See the density of the band-like image BP11 and the band-like image BP12).

  On the other hand, by increasing the output of the laser beam L1 when displaying the band-like image BP12 of FIG. 5B, as shown in FIG. 5C, the display brightness of the band-like image BP12 is set as shown in FIG. The display brightness of the strip-shaped image BP11 in a) can be made the same (see the shades of the strip-shaped image BP11 and the strip-shaped image BP12 in FIGS. 5A and 5C).

  Specifically, the display control ECU 10 stores a laser light output map 10a (see FIG. 1) in which a correspondence relationship between the scanning angle range θ3 and the output of the laser light L1 is defined. This laser light output map 10a stores a laser light output value calculated in advance so that the display brightness of the band-like image BP0 is constant even when the scanning angle range θ3 changes.

The display control ECU 10 determines the output of the laser light L1 based on the laser light output map 10a.
In the vehicle display device 1 configured as described above, the engine speed sensor 11 acquires information indicating the engine speed (hereinafter referred to as engine speed information), and the vehicle speed sensor 12 is configured to indicate information indicating the vehicle speed (hereinafter referred to as engine speed information). Vehicle speed information). The display control ECU 10 has a length corresponding to the engine speed and the vehicle speed indicated by the engine speed information and the vehicle speed information acquired by the engine speed sensor 11 and the vehicle speed sensor 12, respectively, and extends along the scanning direction SD. The scanning angle range θ3 of the scanner 3 is controlled so as to display the strip image BP0.

  According to the vehicle display device 1 configured as described above, the laser light L1 may be emitted from the laser diode 2 toward one point of the reflecting mirror 31, and it is not necessary to irradiate the laser light over a wide range. For this reason, compared with the display apparatus of patent document 1 provided with the fluorescent lamp for irradiating light over the whole display space, the apparatus for irradiating light can be reduced in size.

  Furthermore, according to the vehicular display device 1, it is only necessary to provide a rotation mechanism for simply displaying the belt-like image BP <b> 0 by swinging the reflecting mirror 31 about the rotation shaft 32. For this reason, compared with the display apparatus of patent document 1 provided with the rotation mechanism for moving an instruction | indication member in parallel, a rotation mechanism can be reduced in size.

As described above, the vehicle display device 1 can reduce the volume of the entire device as compared with the display device described in Patent Document 1.
In addition, the vehicle display device 1 displays, as the belt-like image BP0, the belt-like image BP11 and the belt-like image BP12 having lengths corresponding to the respective amounts for the vehicle speed and the engine speed and extending along the scanning direction SD. Thereby, a vehicle speed and an engine speed can be displayed simultaneously.

  The scanner 3 is manufactured using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology. For this reason, the means for scanning the laser beam can be further reduced in size, and the volume of the vehicle display device 1 can be further reduced.

  Further, the display control ECU 10 increases the output of the laser light L1 irradiated by the laser diode 2 as the scanning angle range θ3 scanned by the scanner 3 increases. For this reason, it can suppress that the display brightness | luminance of strip | belt-shaped image BP0 falls as the scanning angle range (theta) 3 becomes large.

  In the embodiment described above, the vehicle display device 1 is a vehicle state display device according to the present invention, the engine rotation sensor 11 and the vehicle speed sensor 12 are vehicle state quantity information acquisition means according to the present invention, and the laser diode 2 is a visible light laser according to the present invention. Irradiation means, scanner 3 is laser scanning means in the present invention, display control ECU 10 is display control means in the present invention, and motor 4 is scanning angle center moving means in the present invention.

  Further, the vehicle speed and the engine speed are the quantity indicating vehicle state in the present invention, the rotation shaft 32 is the predetermined rotation axis in the present invention, the scanning direction SD is the predetermined scanning direction in the present invention, and the strip image BP0 is the first strip image in the present invention. The band images BP1 and BP2 are the second band image and the third band image in the present invention, the 0 ° scanning angle in the scanner 3 is the scanning angle center in the present invention, and the band image BP0 is the fourth band image in the present invention.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

The vehicle display device 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the configuration of the vehicle display device 1 and the configuration of the display region DR1 are changed.
First, the vehicular display device 1 according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, except that a diffusion plate 6 is added that diffuses the laser beam scanned by the scanner 3 and irradiates the laser beam toward the display region DR1. This is the same as the first embodiment.

  In the display area DR1 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, the entire laser irradiation area IR1 and the scale and character portions in the scale display area SR1 are configured by half mirrors (FIG. 7). In (a), the part hatched with a straight line rising to the right corresponds to a half mirror).

  The laser diode 2 is different from the first embodiment in that the laser diode 2 irradiates a laser beam having a spot diameter SP1 (see FIG. 7C) that can cover not only the laser irradiation region IR1 but also the scale display region SR1.

  In the vehicle display device 1 configured as described above, light incident from the outside of the vehicle toward the windshield WS passes through the half mirror and enters the vehicle interior. For this reason, when the display area DR1 is not irradiated with laser light, the scale and characters of the laser irradiation area IR1 and the scale display area SR1 are visually recognized by the driver DR as shown in FIG. 7B. Without disturbing the visibility of the driver DR.

  On the other hand, when the laser beam is scanned toward the display region DR1, the laser beam irradiated on the half mirror is reflected by the half mirror. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7C, the band-like image BP21 is displayed in the laser irradiation region IR1 of the scanning region SCR scanned with the laser beam, and the scale and characters of the scale display region SR1 are displayed. That is, the scale and characters of the scale display area SR1 can be displayed when the strip-like image BP21 is displayed.

  When irradiating the half mirror of the display region DR1 without diffusing the laser beam with the diffusion plate 6, the laser beam scanned toward the vicinity of the end of the display region DR1 and then reflected by the half mirror is Then, the vehicle proceeds in a direction away from the driver DR positioned facing the display region DR1 (see FIG. 17A). For this reason, the driver DR cannot visually recognize the scale and characters near the end of the display region DR1.

  On the other hand, when the laser light is diffused by the diffusion plate 6 and then irradiated to the half mirror of the display region DR1, the laser light scanned toward the vicinity of the end of the display region DR1 is diffused by the diffusion plate 6. Since the light is scattered in various directions, part of the laser light reflected by the half mirror reaches the driver DR (see FIG. 17B). For this reason, the driver DR can visually recognize the scale and characters near the end of the display region DR1.

In the embodiment described above, the diffusion plate 6 is the diffusion means in the present invention, and the scale display area SR1 is the first character display area in the present invention.
(Third embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the vehicle display device 1 according to the third embodiment and a schematic configuration of the in-vehicle LAN 20 to which the vehicle display device 1 is connected. FIG. 9 is a component of the vehicle display device 1 in the vehicle. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning.

As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle display device 1 of the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an ultraviolet laser irradiation unit 9 that irradiates an ultraviolet laser is added.
Moreover, the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 3rd Embodiment is further provided with the ultraviolet light reflective mirror 42 which reflects the ultraviolet light laser irradiated from the ultraviolet light laser irradiation part 9, as shown in FIG. The ultraviolet light reflecting mirror 42 is installed so that the reflected ultraviolet light laser faces the reflecting mirror 31 of the scanner 3.

The vehicle display device 1 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the configuration of the display region DR1 is changed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 10A, the display region DR1 of the third embodiment includes a photochromic material (in this embodiment) in which the entire laser irradiation region IR1 and the scale and character portions in the scale display region SR1 are transparent. , For example, a fulgide compound) (in FIG. 10A, the portion hatched by a straight line rising to the right corresponds to a photochromic material).

  This photochromic material is a material that changes its color from transparent to black when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and further changes to the color of irradiated visible light when irradiated with visible light. Furthermore, the photochromic material returns to transparent when irradiated with white light.

  Accordingly, the scale and characters in the laser irradiation area IR1 and the scale display area SR1 are transparent in the display area DR1, as shown in FIG. 10B, when ultraviolet light and visible light are not irradiated.

  The laser diode 2 and the ultraviolet laser irradiation unit 9 emit laser light having a spot diameter SP2 (see FIGS. 10C and 10D) that can cover not only the laser irradiation region IR1 but also the scale display region SR1. Irradiate.

The vehicle display device 1 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the display control ECU 10 executes a scale display process for displaying scales and characters in the scale display region SR1.
Here, the procedure of the scale display process executed by the display control ECU 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the scale display process.

This scale display process is a process repeatedly executed while the display control ECU 10 is activated (powered on).
When the scale display process is executed, the display control ECU 10 first determines in S10 whether a preset scale display start condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, the scale display start condition is that the accessory power supply of the vehicle has changed from off to on, or that the vehicle has stopped.

Here, when the scale display start condition is not satisfied (S10: NO), the scale display process is terminated.
On the other hand, when the scale display start condition is satisfied (S10: YES), the display of the vehicle speed and the engine speed in the display area DR1 is prohibited in S20. That is, laser irradiation by the laser diode 2 is prohibited.

  In S30, the ultraviolet laser is irradiated from the ultraviolet laser irradiation unit 9 for a predetermined ultraviolet irradiation time (for example, 5 seconds) set in advance, and the ultraviolet light is applied to the entire display region DR1. 3 is caused to execute scanning of an ultraviolet laser. Thereby, as shown in FIG.10 (c), laser irradiation area | region IR1 and scale display area SR1 are colored black.

Thereafter, in S40, display prohibition (S20) of the vehicle speed and engine speed in the display area DR1 is canceled, and the scale display process is ended.
In the vehicle display device 1 configured as described above, since the photochromic material is transparent, when the ultraviolet light and visible light are not irradiated on the scale display region SR1, the characters and scales in the scale display region SR1 are: This prevents the driver from seeing and obstructing the driver's view. On the other hand, the ultraviolet light laser irradiation unit 9 irradiates ultraviolet light toward the scale display region SR1, and then the laser diode 2 irradiates visible light toward the scale display region SR1, whereby the characters of the scale display region SR1 and A scale is displayed. For this reason, when displaying the strip | belt-shaped image BP0, the character and scale of scale display area SR1 can be displayed.

  Note that when the photochromic material is colored by irradiation with ultraviolet light and visible light, the color colored on the photochromic material gradually disappears as time passes. For this reason, before the color of the photochromic material disappears, it is necessary to irradiate the ultraviolet light again toward the scale display region SR1.

  Further, since the scanner 3 is used when displaying the belt-like image BP0 and the scanner 3 is used when the ultraviolet laser irradiation unit 9 emits light, the ultraviolet light is emitted toward the scale display region SR1. When the scanner 3 is used for this purpose, it is desirable not to disturb the display of the band-like image BP0.

  Here, when the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle speed is 0, and there is no need to display the belt-like image BP1 that displays the vehicle speed. Further, when the vehicle is stopped, the engine speed is usually the idling speed, and the band-like image BP2 that displays the engine speed becomes very short, so the band-like image BP2 may not be displayed. Can be considered.

  And the display apparatus 1 for vehicles performs the process which irradiates ultraviolet light toward the scale display area | region SR1 when the vehicle has stopped (S10, S30). Thereby, it can suppress that the character and scale of scale display area SR1 disappear, suppressing the display of strip | belt-shaped image BP0.

  In the embodiment described above, the scale display region SR1 is the second character display region in the present invention, the laser diode 2 and the scanner 3 are the visible light irradiation means in the present invention, and the ultraviolet laser irradiation unit 9 and the scanner 3 are the ultraviolet light in the present invention. It is a light irradiation means.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, As long as it belongs to the technical scope of this invention, a various form can be taken.
For example, in the first embodiment, the display region DR1 is provided below the windshield WS. However, as shown in FIG. 12A, the laser diode 2 and the scanner 3 are installed on the ceiling RF of the passenger compartment, and the laser beam L2 is scanned from the ceiling RF toward the upper surface P1 of the dashboard DB. As shown in (b), the vehicle speed and the engine speed may be displayed in the display area DR2 on the upper surface P1 of the dashboard DB.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the laser diode 2 and the scanner 3 are installed on the ceiling RF of the passenger compartment, and the laser beam L3 is scanned from the ceiling RF toward the right front pillar PL, thereby FIG. ), The vehicle speed and the engine speed may be displayed in the display area DR3 of the right front pillar PL.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the vehicle speed and the engine speed may be displayed on the DEF outlet DO by scanning the laser beam L4 toward the DEF outlet DO of the dashboard DB. In this case, the partition DOB of the DEF outlet DO may be used as the scale of the display area DR4. Thereby, it is not necessary to draw a scale near the DEF outlet DO, and the vehicle speed and the engine speed can be displayed without impairing the design in the passenger compartment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle speed and the engine speed are displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any vehicle state that can be represented by an amount (for example, the remaining amount of gasoline). That's fine.

  In the above embodiment, two vehicle states (vehicle speed and engine speed) are displayed simultaneously. However, the number of vehicle states to be displayed is not limited to two, and one vehicle state (for example, , Vehicle speed only or engine speed only), or three or more vehicle states may be displayed.

  In the first embodiment, the scanning angle range θ3 scanned by the scanner 3 is changed in order to change the display width DW0 of the strip-like image BP0 in the display region DR1. However, as shown in FIG. 15A, the display width DW0 may be changed by changing the irradiation timing of the laser light L1 from the laser diode 2 while keeping the scanning angle range θ3 scanned by the scanner 3 constant. Good. That is, the scanner 3 operates so as to scan the entire display region DR1 (see the scanning angle range θ0). The laser diode 2 is only at a scanning angle for drawing a belt-like image BP1 (see the scanning angle range θ1) for displaying the vehicle speed and a belt-like image BP2 (see the scanning angle range θ2) for displaying the engine speed. Irradiate laser beam L1.

  In the first embodiment, the offset angle OS is changed by driving the motor 4. However, as shown in FIG. 15B, the offset angle OS may be changed using a biaxial MEMS scanner 50. That is, the MEMS scanner 50 includes a reflecting mirror 51 that reflects laser light, a movable frame 53 that supports the reflecting mirror 51 so as to be swingable about the rotating shaft 52, and a rotating shaft 54 that is coaxially mounted on the rotating shaft 52. It is comprised from the fixed frame 55 which supports the movable frame 53 rotatably at the center. The MEMS scanner 50 scans the laser beam by swinging the reflecting mirror 51 around the rotation axis 52 with respect to the movable frame 53 (see arrow Y11), and further moves the movable frame 53 relative to the fixed frame 55. Thus, the offset angle OS is changed by rotating around the rotation shaft 54 (see arrow Y12).

  In the first embodiment, the belt-like image BP1 displaying the vehicle speed and the belt-like image BP2 displaying the engine speed are connected to each other at the end portions, and the belt-like image BP0 is displayed in the laser irradiation region IR1. showed that. However, as shown in FIG. 16, the belt-like image BP21 displaying the vehicle speed and the belt-like image BP22 displaying the engine speed may be separated. The band images BP21 and 22 are the second band image and the third band image in the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, the belt-shaped image BP0 is drawn by irradiating the laser beam having the spot diameter SP0 equal to the length of the short side of the laser irradiation region IR1, but the short image of the laser irradiation region IR1 is shown. The belt-like image BP0 may be drawn by two-dimensionally scanning laser light having a spot diameter shorter than the side. Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the laser beam having a spot diameter that can cover not only the laser irradiation region IR1 but also the scale display region SR1 is shown. The laser beam may be two-dimensionally scanned.

  In the above embodiment, the single laser diode 2 irradiates laser light to draw the monochromatic band-like image BP0. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of laser diodes have different colors. The belt-shaped image BP0 may be drawn with various colors by irradiating the laser beam. For example, the belt-like image BP0 can be drawn in full color by irradiating laser beams of red, blue, and green.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 1st, 2 embodiment. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning in the vehicle of the component of the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 1st Embodiment, and the structure of display area DR1. 2 is a perspective view showing a front surface and a back surface of a scanner 3. It is a figure which shows the scanning method of the laser beam and strip | belt-shaped image BP0 of 1st, 2 embodiment. It is a figure explaining the control method of display luminance. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning in the vehicle of the component of the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the display method by a half mirror. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the component of the display apparatus 1 for vehicles of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the display method by a photochromic material. It is a flowchart which shows a scale display process. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of display area DR2. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of display area DR3. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of display area DR4. It is a figure which shows the structure of the scanning method of the laser beam of other embodiment, and the MEMS scanner. It is a figure which shows the strip | belt-shaped image of other embodiment. It is a figure explaining the difference in the advancing direction of the laser beam by the presence or absence of a diffusion means.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display apparatus for vehicles, 2 ... Laser diode, 3 ... Scanner, 4 ... Motor, 5 ... In-vehicle LAN communication part, 6 ... Diffusion plate, 9 ... Ultraviolet laser irradiation part, 10 ... Display control ECU, 11 ... Engine rotation DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 20 ... In-vehicle LAN, 31 ... Reflecting mirror, 32 ... Rotating shaft, 33 ... Swing support part, 34 ... Rotating shaft, 42 ... Ultraviolet light reflecting mirror, 50 ... MEMS scanner, 51 ... Reflecting mirror , 52 ... Rotating shaft, 53 ... Movable frame, 54 ... Rotating shaft, 55 ... Fixed frame, BP0, BP1, BP2, BP11, BP12, BP21, BP22 ... Strip image, IR1 ... Laser irradiation area, SR1 ... Scale display area

Claims (7)

A vehicle state display device that is mounted on a vehicle and displays the state of the vehicle,
Vehicle state quantity information acquisition means for acquiring, as a quantity indicating vehicle state, a state that can be represented by an amount of the vehicle state, and acquiring vehicle state quantity information that is information indicating the quantity indicating vehicle state;
A visible light laser irradiation means for irradiating a visible light laser;
A reflection mirror that reflects the visible light laser emitted by the visible light laser irradiation means; and by swinging the reflection mirror about a predetermined rotation axis that is set in advance, depending on the rotation direction of the predetermined rotation axis Laser scanning means for scanning the visible light laser along a predetermined scanning direction to be determined;
A belt-like first belt image having a length corresponding to the amount of the amount indicating vehicle state indicated by the vehicle state amount information acquired by the vehicle state amount information acquisition means and extending along the predetermined scanning direction. Display control means for controlling at least one of the timing of irradiation of the visible light laser by the visible light laser irradiation means and the scanning angle of the visible light laser by the laser scanning means so as to display ,
The vehicle state quantity information acquisition means acquires the vehicle state quantity information for at least two of the quantity indicating vehicle states,
The display control means includes
As the first strip image,
Each of the two quantity indication vehicle states acquired by the vehicle state quantity information acquisition means has a length corresponding to the amount of the quantity indication vehicle state indicated by the vehicle state quantity information, and is in the predetermined scanning direction. Displaying a belt-like second belt-like image and a third belt-like image extending along,
The display control means connects the second belt-like image and the third belt-like image at an end portion so as to form one belt-like fourth belt-like image extending along the predetermined scanning direction. Displaying two strip images and the third strip image;
With the center of the scanning range that can be scanned by the laser scanning means as the center of the scanning angle, the scanning center direction that is the direction of the reflecting mirror when the center of the scanning angle is the direction of rotation of the predetermined rotation axis Scanning angle center moving means for moving along
The scanning angle center moving means so that the visible light laser reflected by the reflecting mirror in the direction of the scanning angle center reaches the center along the predetermined scanning direction in the fourth strip image. Scanning angle center movement control means for moving the scanning center direction
Vehicle state display apparatus comprising: a. The two quantity indicating vehicle states are:
The vehicle state display device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle state display device is a traveling speed and an engine speed of a vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted. The vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the laser scanning unit is an optical scanning device manufactured by using a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology. The display control means includes
The larger the range of the scanning angle of scanning the visible light laser by the laser scanning unit of claim 1 to claim 3, characterized in that to increase the output of the visible laser irradiated by the visible light laser irradiating means The vehicle state display device according to any one of the above. Diffusing means for diffusing the visible light laser scanned by the laser scanning means and irradiating it toward a windshield of a vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted;
The windshield is
In a region adjacent to the region where the first belt image is displayed, characters and scales for indicating the correspondence between the length of the first belt image and the amount of the quantity indicating vehicle state are formed by a half mirror. The vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a first character display area. The laser scanning means scans a visible light laser toward a windshield of a vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted,
The windshield is
The area adjacent to the area where the first belt-like image is displayed is irradiated with ultraviolet light with characters and scales for indicating the correspondence between the length of the first belt-like image and the amount of the quantity indicating vehicle state. A second character display region formed of a transparent photochromic material that is colored in the color of visible light irradiated thereafter,
Ultraviolet light irradiating means for irradiating ultraviolet light toward the second character display area;
The vehicle state display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising visible light irradiation means for irradiating visible light toward the second character display area. The ultraviolet light irradiation means,
The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein irradiation is performed when an accessory power supply of a vehicle on which the vehicle state display device is mounted is turned on or when it is not necessary to display the first belt-like image. Status display device.