JP5546953B2 - Energy level meter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a residual energy meter that displays the remaining amount of each energy source in a hybrid vehicle that obtains power from different types of first energy source and second energy source, such as electricity and gasoline.

  A hybrid vehicle travels by obtaining power from a plurality of different energy sources such as electricity and fossil fuel (gasoline, light oil, etc.). Such a hybrid vehicle has an energy for displaying the remaining amount of each energy source, such as the remaining amount of electricity stored in the battery (remaining amount of electricity stored) and the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank. A fuel meter is provided.

  For example, the remaining energy meter 701 disclosed in Patent Document 1 converts the remaining power storage amount and the remaining fuel amount into a travelable distance as a common unit, and as shown in FIG. The bar graph unit 710a indicating the remaining power storage amount and the bar graph unit 710b indicating the remaining fuel amount are sequentially stacked, that is, the bar graph unit 710a and the bar graph unit 710b are displayed as one bar graph. Further, the bar graph portion 710a and the bar graph portion 710b are respectively displayed by causing light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes of different colors to shine.

  The remaining energy meter 701, for example, expands or contracts the length of the bar graph unit 710a in accordance with the fluctuation when the remaining amount of power storage changes, and the bar graph unit 710b does not change the length of the bar graph unit 710a. It is displayed by moving the length of the length. Further, when the remaining amount of fuel changes, the length of the bar graph part 710b is expanded and contracted according to the change without changing the length of the bar graph part 710a. As a result, the driver can grasp at a glance how much the remaining amount of stored electricity or the remaining amount of fuel remains, or how much of the remaining amount remains.

JP-A-11-220803

  However, in the above-described remaining energy meter 701 and the like, as shown in FIG. 7, two types of light emitting elements 711a and 711b that emit colors corresponding to the bar graph portions 710a and 710b are mixed with each other to display a display area 710. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of light emitting elements increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

  The present invention aims to solve the above problems. In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive energy remaining meter that sequentially displays a plurality of color-coded graphic portions indicating the remaining amount for each energy source.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is used in a hybrid vehicle that obtains power from different types of the first energy source and the second energy source, and is color-coded corresponding to each of these energy sources. A remaining energy meter that sequentially displays and displays a first graphic part and a second graphic part whose lengths are determined according to the remaining amount of each energy source, corresponding to the first graphic part A plurality of first light emitting elements for emitting colors and a plurality of second light emitting elements for emitting colors corresponding to the second graphic part, wherein the plurality of first light emitting elements are arranged in a first reference position from a predetermined reference position. The first light source is disposed up to a first position indicating a maximum remaining amount of the energy source, and the plurality of second light emitting elements are connected to the maximum remaining amount of the first energy source and the second energy from the reference position. Source remaining To a second position indicating the total value of the maximum value, the energy remaining amount meter, characterized in that it is arranged side by side with the plurality of first light-emitting element.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first graphic portion indicating the remaining amount of the first energy source is moved between the reference position and the first position by the plurality of first light emitting elements. From the reference position to the second position, the second graphic part indicating the remaining amount of the second energy source can be displayed by the plurality of second light emitting elements. Can be displayed in any length. That is, the first graphic part can be displayed with a length corresponding to the remaining amount of the first energy source between the reference position and the first position, and the second graphic part is displayed in the first graphic part. It can be displayed so as to extend in the length corresponding to the remaining amount of the second energy source between the reference position and the second position. In addition, the first light emitting element is not disposed between the first position and the second position. Moreover, the 2nd graphic part which shows a 2nd energy source is piled up and displayed on the 1st graphic part which shows a 1st energy source.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the first energy source is electricity, and the second energy source is gasoline.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the second graphic portion indicating the remaining amount of gasoline as the second energy source is stacked and displayed on the first graphic portion indicating the remaining amount of electricity as the first energy source. To do.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first graphic unit can be moved from the reference position without arranging the first light emitting element between the first position and the second position. It can be displayed in a length corresponding to the remaining amount of the first energy source until the first position, and the second graphic part is connected to the first graphic part so as to extend from the reference position to the second position. Since it is possible to display a length corresponding to the remaining amount of the second energy source until the position, that is, without arranging the first light emitting element in the entire display area, the first graphic unit and the second graphic The remaining amount of each energy source can be displayed by sequentially stacking the units, and therefore the number of light emitting elements can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Moreover, since the 2nd graphic part which shows a 2nd energy source is piled up and displayed on the 1st graphic part which shows a 1st energy source, a driver | operator is the remaining amount of a 1st energy source, the remaining amount of a 2nd energy source. , And the total of these remaining amounts can be displayed in an instantly recognizable manner.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the second graphic portion indicating the remaining amount of gasoline as the second energy source is stacked and displayed on the first graphic portion indicating the remaining amount of electricity as the first energy source. Therefore, the driver can display the remaining amount of electricity, the remaining amount of gasoline, and the total of these remaining amounts so that they can be recognized instantly.

It is a front view which shows an example of meter ECU provided with the energy residual amount meter of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of meter ECU of FIG. It is a figure explaining the energy residual amount meter shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a front view of an energy residual amount meter, (b) is the 1st light emitting diode and 2nd light emission with which an energy residual amount meter is provided. It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of a diode, (c) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of (b), (d) is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of (b). It is a figure explaining an example of the display operation | movement of the energy remaining amount meter shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a figure which shows that both the electrical storage residual amount and fuel residual amount are a full state, (b) (A) is a figure which shows the state from which the electrical storage residual amount decreased, (c) is a figure which shows the state from which the electrical storage residual amount further decreased from (b), and became zero, (d) These are figures which show the state from which the fuel remaining amount decreased from (c). (A) is the modification of arrangement | positioning of the 1st light emitting diode and the 2nd light emitting diode in the energy residual amount meter shown in FIG. 1, (b) is another modification. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the conventional energy residual amount meter. It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of two types of light emitting elements in the conventional residual energy meter.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a remaining energy meter of the present invention and a meter ECU including the remaining energy meter will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The meter ECU 1 is a known combination meter. As shown in FIG. 1, the meter ECU 1 includes a plurality of pointer meters 20 that display a vehicle traveling speed and an engine speed, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 30, various warning lights 40, and the like. And a remaining energy meter 50. In the meter ECU 1, the facing plate 8 is disposed between the display units 52 of the plurality of pointer meters 20, the LCD 30, and the remaining energy meter 50, and is covered with a front glass (not shown) in the driver's seat of the vehicle. Is placed in front of.

  Such a meter ECU 1 is, for example, electricity as a first energy source stored in a traveling battery made of a secondary battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery, and a second energy source stored in a fuel tank. The vehicle is mounted on a hybrid vehicle (not shown) that obtains power by driving a motor and an engine, respectively.

  As is well known, each of the plurality of pointer meters 20 has a dial having a scale and indicators such as numerals, letters or symbols on the surface, a pointer placed on the front face of the dial, traveling speed, And an internal unit (not shown) that drives the pointer in accordance with a measured amount of state information such as engine speed. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of pointer meters 20 of the present embodiment includes a speedometer (SPEED) 20a and a tachometer (REV) 20b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the meter ECU 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read-only memory (ROM) 12, a randomly readable / writable memory (RAM) 13, and electrical erasing, which are well-known. / A rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM) 14 and a communication unit 15 are included.

  The CPU 11 controls the entire meter ECU 1 and performs control according to a program stored in the ROM 12. The CPU 11 operates with electric power supplied from the vehicle power supply via the power supply circuit 11j. The CPU 11 is activated in response to a change of the vehicle ignition switch (IGN +) from the OFF state to the ON state (that is, power-on) via the interface (I / F) 11i, and the IGN + is switched from the ON state to the OFF state. The operation is terminated according to the change.

  The ROM 12 stores a control program for causing the CPU 11 to function as various means such as vehicle speed display control means, engine speed display control means, and remaining energy display control means. The CPU 11 functions as the above-described various means by executing the control program stored in the ROM 12. The RAM 13 stores various data and has an area necessary for processing operations of the CPU 11.

  The EEPROM 14 is an electrically erasable / rewritable read-only memory, and is electrically connected to the CPU 11. The EEPROM 14 is a conversion table for converting the remaining amount of electricity (that is, the remaining amount of electricity stored) as the first energy source stored in the traveling battery into the travelable distance, and the second energy source stored in the fuel tank. Various information necessary for the control of the meter ECU 1 such as a conversion table for converting the remaining amount of gasoline (that is, the remaining amount of fuel) into a travelable distance is stored.

  The communication unit 15 is communicably connected to an in-vehicle network (not shown) such as a CAN built in the vehicle via the I / F 11i, and communicates with other electronic devices connected to the in-vehicle network using a communication protocol such as CAN. Do.

  The CPU 11 is configured as a component of the engine ignition system and a travel pulse signal (speed signal) from a travel sensor (not shown) that outputs a travel pulse every time the vehicle travels a unit distance via the I / F 11i. A pulse signal (engine speed signal) proportional to the engine speed is input from an ignition coil (not shown). When the speed signal is input, the CPU 11 acquires the travel speed indicated by the signal as travel speed information. Further, when the engine speed signal is input, the CPU 11 acquires the engine speed indicated by the signal as engine speed information.

  A motor driver 16 is electrically connected to the CPU 11, and two pointer instruments 20 of a speedometer 20 a and a tachometer 20 b are electrically connected to the motor driver 16. The motor driver 16 drives the internal unit (motor) of each meter 2 under the control of the CPU 11. As a result, each pointer instrument 20 rotates the pointer to the indicated position corresponding to the drive signal by the drive signal input via the motor driver 16, and cooperates with the index of the dial so that the vehicle speed information and the engine Displays rotation speed information.

  An LCD driver 17 is connected to the CPU 11, and an LCD 30 is electrically connected to the LCD driver 17. The LCD driver 17 drives the LCD 30 under the control of the CPU 11. The LCD 30 is configured to be able to display various types of information in response to requests from the CPU 11. In the present embodiment, the LCD driver 17 causes the LCD 30 to display various information requested by the CPU 11 (for example, the total travel distance (ODD) and the section travel distance (TRIP) of the vehicle, alarm information, etc.).

  Further, the CPU 11 detects a signal (a remaining charge signal) from a not-shown remaining charge detection sensor for detecting the remaining charge in the traveling battery and the remaining fuel in the fuel tank via the I / F 11i. A signal (fuel remaining amount signal) from a fuel remaining amount detection sensor (not shown) is input.

  The remaining power storage detection sensor detects, for example, a remaining power storage based on a value obtained by integrating the amount of electricity charged to the traveling battery and the amount of discharged electricity, or the battery voltage being discharged during normal operation. For example, a value that is detected and compared with a predetermined voltage value to detect the remaining amount of electricity is used. Then, the remaining charge detection sensor outputs a remaining charge signal corresponding to the detected remaining charge to the CPU 11.

  The remaining fuel detection sensor has, for example, a contact that slides on the resistor according to the position of the float that floats on the fuel level, and outputs a voltage obtained by dividing the voltage applied to both ends of the resistor to the contact For example, a device that detects the liquid level (that is, the liquid level) of the fuel in the fuel tank as the remaining amount of fuel is used. The fuel remaining amount detection sensor outputs a fuel remaining amount signal corresponding to the detected fuel remaining amount to the CPU 11.

  An LED driver 18 is electrically connected to the CPU 11, and a remaining energy meter 50 is electrically connected to the LED driver 18. The CPU 11 uses each conversion table stored in the EEPROM 14 to calculate a travelable distance based on the remaining power storage signal based on the remaining power storage signal and to travel based on the remaining fuel signal based on the remaining fuel signal. Is calculated. Then, the CPU 11 uses the remaining power storage amount and the remaining fuel amount (that is, the remaining energy amount) converted as each of the calculated travelable distances, via the LED driver 18, an energy remaining amount meter 50 shown below. Drive control.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the remaining energy meter 50 includes a rectangular remaining power bar graph portion G1 having a different color and having a length determined according to the remaining power, and fuel. A rectangular fuel remaining amount bar graph portion G2 whose length is determined according to the remaining amount is sequentially stacked, and the remaining amount of stored electricity, the remaining amount of fuel, and the total of these remaining amounts are visually displayed.

  The energy remaining amount meter 50 includes an indicator unit 51 and a display unit 52 that is arranged side by side on the indicator unit 51 and that serves as a display area for displaying the remaining power storage bar graph unit G1 and the remaining fuel bar graph unit G2. Yes.

  The indicator unit 51 displays the remaining amount of energy (that is, the total remaining amount of the remaining amount of stored electricity and the remaining amount of fuel) in cooperation with the bar graph units G1 and G2 displayed on the display unit 52. It is an index printed on. The indicator 51 has a plurality of scales that divide one straight line at equal intervals, and the scale at one end of the straight line (that is, the reference position E) indicates that the remaining energy is zero, and the other end Scale (that is, full position F) indicates that the remaining amount of energy is full (that is, the remaining amount of electricity stored and the remaining amount of fuel are full), and the center scale (that is, half-position H). Indicates that the remaining amount of energy is half of the full amount.

  The display unit 52 includes a plurality of first light emitting diodes 53 as first light emitting elements, a plurality of second light emitting diodes 54 as second light emitting elements, a case 55, and a cover 56.

  The first light emitting diode 53 is, for example, a known electronic component that emits red light. As shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of first light emitting diodes 53 are arranged on the front surface 7 a of the circuit board 7 provided inside the meter ECU 1, from the reference position E to the half amount position H, on the scale of the index unit 51. Correspondingly, they are arranged in a line at equal intervals.

  The second light emitting diode 54 is a known electronic component that emits light of a color different from that of the first light emitting diode 53, for example, blue light. As shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of second light emitting diodes 54 are arranged on the front surface 7 a of the circuit board 7 at regular intervals from the reference position E to the full position F corresponding to the scale of the index portion 51. In addition, the first light emitting diodes 53 are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel.

  The case 55 is formed in a rectangular tube shape as a whole using a non-translucent synthetic resin or the like, and on the inner side thereof, the scale is the same as the scale so as to correspond to each of the scales. A plurality of accommodation spaces 55a to 55l that are partitioned at equal intervals are provided. One end of the case 55 is disposed so as to overlap the opening 8 a having the same shape as the plan view of the case 55 provided on the facing plate 8, and the other end is disposed so as to overlap the front surface 7 a of the circuit board 7. At this time, the first light emitting diode 53 and the second light emitting diode 54 are accommodated in the plurality of accommodation spaces 55a to 55f of the case 55, respectively, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3D, the second light emitting diodes 54 are accommodated.

  The cover 56 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having the same shape as the plan view of the case 55 using, for example, white semi-transparent synthetic resin. The cover 56 is disposed so as to overlap the opening 8 a of the facing plate 8 and one end of the case 55. The back surface 56a of the cover 56 facing the case 55 is subjected to a surface treatment for diffusing light, such as embossing.

  Since each of the light emitting diodes 53 and 54 is partitioned and accommodated in the accommodating spaces 55a to 55l, for example, the first light emitting diode 53 accommodated in one accommodating space emits light and the back surface 56a of the cover 56 is illuminated. Then, the light of the first light emitting diode 53 diffuses, and a part of the cover 56 (that is, one section of the display unit 52 corresponding to one scale of the indicator unit 51) is uniformly reddish. Emits light. Similarly, when the second light emitting diode 54 emits light, part of the cover 56 emits light uniformly in blue.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 52 of the remaining energy meter 50 is divided at equal intervals according to the scale of the indicator unit 51 (that is, a plurality of sections are provided), and one section is a predetermined number. It shows that energy that can travel a travel distance (for example, 30 km) remains. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the remaining amount of energy is full (that is, the remaining amount of stored electricity and the remaining amount of fuel are full), the remaining amount of stored electricity bar graph portion G1 is half the amount from the reference position E. The fuel remaining amount bar graph portion G2 is displayed from the half amount position H to the full amount position F. That is, in this embodiment, the distance that can be traveled only by electricity when the remaining amount of power storage is full is the same as the distance that can be traveled by only gasoline when the remaining amount of fuel is full.

  As is clear from this, the half amount position H indicates the maximum value of the remaining power storage amount, that is, corresponds to the first position in the claims, and the full position F indicates the maximum value of the remaining power storage amount. And the maximum value of the remaining amount of fuel, that is, corresponding to the second position in the claims. The remaining power bar graph portion G1 corresponds to the first graphic portion in the claims, and the remaining fuel bar graph portion G2 corresponds to the second graphic portion in the claims.

  Of course, the distance that can be traveled only by electricity when the remaining amount of electricity stored is full and the distance that can be traveled only by gasoline when the remaining amount of fuel is full may be different. For example, the distance that can be traveled only by electricity when the remaining amount of electricity is full is 120 km, and when the remaining amount of energy is full, the remaining amount of bar graph part G1 is the fourth indicator part 51 from the reference position E. It may be displayed up to the graduation position, and the remaining fuel bar graph part G2 may be displayed from the graduation position to the full position F. In this case, the first light emitting diodes 53 are arranged in a line from the reference position E to the fourth scale position. And this 4th scale position is equivalent to the 1st position in a claim. Further, the energy remaining amount indicated by one section of the display unit 52 may not be equal, for example, the remaining amount (travelable distance) indicated by one section from the reference position E to the half amount position H is 10 km, The configuration from the half amount position H to the full position F is arbitrary as long as it does not contradict the object of the present invention, for example, the remaining amount indicated by one section is 30 km.

  The CPU 11 controls the light emitting diodes 53 and 54 of the remaining energy meter 50 via the LED driver 18, and the remaining power bar graph portion having a length corresponding to the remaining power signal input from the remaining power detection sensor. G1 and a remaining fuel bar graph portion G2 having a length corresponding to the remaining fuel signal from the remaining fuel detection sensor are displayed on the display unit 52 of the remaining energy meter 50.

  For example, when the remaining amount of energy is full, as shown in FIG. 4A, the remaining power bar graph portion G1 is displayed from the reference position E to the half amount position H, and is stacked on this remaining power bar graph portion G1. In this way, the fuel remaining amount bar graph part G2 is displayed from the half amount position H to the full position F. Then, when the remaining power amount is reduced by running by the motor, as shown in FIG. 4B, the remaining power amount bar graph portion G1 is displayed to be shortened to a length corresponding to the remaining power amount, The fuel remaining amount bar graph part G2 is moved and displayed closer to the reference position E by the amount of the remaining power storage bar graph part G1 with the length as it is. Further, when the remaining amount of electricity stored decreases to zero, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), only the remaining fuel amount bar graph portion G2 is displayed with a length corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel. When the remaining amount of fuel decreases, as shown in FIG. 4D, the remaining fuel amount bar graph portion G2 is shortened and displayed so as to have a length corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, a plurality of first light-emitting diodes 53 allow the remaining power bar graph portion G1 indicating the remaining power to be stored between the reference position E and the half amount position H from the reference position E to an arbitrary amount. The fuel remaining amount bar graph portion G2 indicating the remaining amount of fuel can be arbitrarily displayed at any position between the reference position E and the full position F by the plurality of second light emitting diodes 54. Can be displayed in length. That is, the remaining power bar graph portion G1 can be displayed in a length corresponding to the remaining fuel amount between the reference position E and the half amount position H, and the remaining fuel amount bar graph portion G2 can be displayed. By connecting to the bar graph part G1 so as to extend, a length corresponding to the remaining fuel amount can be displayed between the reference position E and the full position F. Further, the first light emitting diode 53 is not disposed between the half amount position H and the full position F.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the first light-emitting diode 53 is not disposed between the half-position H and the full-position F, the remaining power bar graph part G1 is half-pumped from the reference position E. It can be displayed in a length corresponding to the remaining amount of electricity until position H, and the fuel remaining amount bar graph part G2 is connected to extend to this electricity storage remaining amount bar graph part G1, so that the full amount from the reference position E is reached. Since it can be displayed in a length corresponding to the remaining fuel amount up to the position F, that is, the remaining power storage bar graph portion G1 and the remaining fuel amount without arranging the first light emitting diode 53 in the entire display portion. The bar graph portion G2 can be sequentially stacked to display the remaining amount of each energy source. Therefore, the number of light emitting diodes can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the remaining fuel amount bar graph portion G2 indicating the remaining amount of gasoline as the second energy source is stacked and displayed on the stored electricity remaining amount bar graph portion G1 indicating the remaining amount of electricity as the first energy source, the driver can The remaining amount of electricity, the remaining amount of gasoline, and the total of these remaining amounts can be displayed in an instantly recognizable manner.

  In the present embodiment, the first light-emitting diode 53 and the second light-emitting diode 54 are arranged in a row, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the housing spaces 55a to 55f of the case 55, multicolor light emitting diodes having two types of light emitting elements that emit red and blue light (that is, the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element) are arranged and accommodated. A monochromatic light emitting diode including one type of light emitting element that emits blue light (that is, the second light emitting element) may be disposed in the spaces 55g to 55l. Alternatively, as the first light emitting diode 53 and the second light emitting diode 54, those having a small outer shape are used, and as shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of the first light emitting diodes 53 and the second light emitting diodes 54 are alternately arranged in parallel. They may be arranged in a row, or as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the remaining energy is displayed as a rectangular bar graph. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an arc shape whose length is expanded or contracted according to the remaining amount is used. As long as it does not violate the purpose of the present invention, such as a figure or a pie chart figure whose area expands or contracts according to the remaining amount (in this case, the length in the circumferential direction corresponds to the length in the claims) The shape of the graphic part to be displayed is arbitrary.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the remaining amount of electricity stored is displayed in red and the remaining amount of fuel is displayed in blue, but of course, other colors may be displayed. Furthermore, “color classification” in the claims includes changing the color gradation with the same color, and may be displayed so that each remaining amount can be distinguished unless contrary to the object of the present invention.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 Meter ECU
5 Energy Remaining Meter 51 Index Unit 52 Display Unit 53 First Light-Emitting Diode (First Light-Emitting Element)
54 Second light emitting diode (second light emitting element)
55 Case 56 Cover G1 Remaining power remaining bar graph part (first graphic part)
G2 Remaining fuel bar graph (second graphic part)
E Reference position H Half amount position (first position)
F Full position (second position)

Claims (2)

It is used in hybrid vehicles that obtain power from different types of first energy source and second energy source. They are color-coded according to each energy source and the length is determined according to the remaining amount of each energy source. An energy level meter that sequentially stacks and displays the first graphic part and the second graphic part,
A plurality of first light emitting elements emitting a color corresponding to the first graphic part;
A plurality of second light emitting elements emitting a color corresponding to the second graphic part,
The plurality of first light emitting elements are disposed from a predetermined reference position to a first position indicating a maximum value of the remaining amount of the first energy source, and
The plurality of second light emitting elements from the reference position to a second position indicating a total value of a maximum value of the remaining amount of the first energy source and a maximum value of the remaining amount of the second energy source. A remaining energy meter, wherein the remaining energy meter is arranged side by side with the first light emitting element. The first energy source is electricity;
The residual energy meter according to claim 1, wherein the second energy source is gasoline.

Images