JPH03135726A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display data for vehicle in an analog state by giving a potential difference between transparent electrodes corresponding to the 1st position of a display panel and giving the voltage of the same potential between transparent electrodes corresponding to the 2nd position of the display panel. CONSTITUTION:It is assumed that the output of l0 level is obtained as the remaining quantity of fuel. In such the case, intermediate tap electrodes En and Fn are selected in order to display the remaining quantity of fuel l0 and AC power-supply 4 is impressed between both electrodes. When the electrodes En and Fn are selected, tap electrode Em and Fm at low level which are a fixed distance apart from the electrodes En and Fn are selected and short- circuited. By making the voltage impressed on bubble liquid crystal 2 small, the transmissivity of light gets small and scattering degree is increased. Therefore, the liquid crystal 2 has high transmissivity and low scattering degree between the electrodes En-Fn on the panel, but its transmissivity becomes low and its scattering degree becomes high as it approaches to the electrodes Em-Fm. Therefore, the display board 3 on the back surface is clearly viewed near the electrodes En-Fn of a display device but only the color of resin in which the liquid crystal 2 is sealed is viewed near the electrodes Em-Fm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that is installed in a vehicle and provides various vehicle data to vehicle occupants.

(Prior Art) As a conventional vehicle display device, one shown in FIG. 14 is known, which displays predetermined vehicle data by turning on and off a specific liquid crystal segment.

For example, in the same figure, in (a) the temperature is displayed by turning on the S segment, in (b) the vehicle speed is displayed by turning on the S2 segment, and in (C) the vehicle speed is displayed by turning on the S3 segment. The fuel remaining amount is displayed when the segment is turned ON.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional device as described above, vehicle data is displayed by turning on and off segments of specific parts, so the display mode becomes digital and human There was a problem in that the display did not match the analog cognitive characteristics of the vehicle, and the display format felt strange to the vehicle occupants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle display device that displays vehicle data in an analog manner and allows vehicle occupants to recognize various driving information without feeling uncomfortable.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a display panel in which a liquid crystal is sealed in a transparent resin, transparent electrodes bonded to both surfaces of the display panel, and a display panel with predetermined vehicle data. a first determining means for determining a first position of the display panel corresponding to the vehicle data, and a second determining means for determining a first position of the display panel that is a certain distance IL from the first position of the transparent electrode. a second determining means for determining a position; a first voltage applying means for applying a potential difference between the transparent electrodes corresponding to the first position of the display panel; It is characterized by having a second voltage applying means for applying a voltage of the same potential between the transparent electrodes.

(Explanation of Examples) The present invention will be explained below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a bubble liquid crystal (display panel) in which a liquid crystal material is sealed in a transparent resin in the form of bubbles, and transparent electrodes IE are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the bubble liquid crystal 2, respectively.
and IF are glued.

The transparent electrode IE on the upper surface side has a large number of intermediate tap electrodes EI r E 2 + "' E nr EIl
+1+ "' is provided, and F+ is also provided on the transparent electrode IF on the lower surface side corresponding to the intermediate tap electrode on the upper surface side.
r F2 +...Fn, Fn◆1. ... are provided with intermediate tap electrodes. In addition, the electrode IF on the bottom side
A display board 3 that determines display colors is bonded to the bottom surface of the display panel.

By the way, when no voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes IE and IF, the liquid crystal molecules in the bubble liquid crystal are randomly arranged, so that light incident from one side is scattered by the liquid crystal molecules and is diffused or reflected. Therefore, in this case, only the resin color in the bubble liquid crystal is visually recognized.

On the other hand, when a voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes IE and IF, an electric field is generated within the bubble liquid crystal 2, and the direction of the liquid crystal molecules becomes approximately parallel to the electric field. Therefore, the light transmittance increases and the bubble liquid crystal 2 becomes almost transparent. Therefore, in this case, the color of the display board 3 will be visually recognized.

Figure 2 shows the transmittance characteristics of the bubble liquid crystal 2 when a voltage is applied to the bubble liquid crystal 2. As shown in the figure, as the applied voltage increases, the transmittance increases in an analog manner. On the other hand, the scattering degree becomes smaller.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 3, taking as an example the case where the remaining fuel amount is displayed as vehicle data.

Now, the remaining fuel amount is determined by the fuel remaining amount measuring device (not shown) installed on the vehicle! Assume that a 0 level output is obtained. In this case, the amount of fuel remaining in the middle tap electrode! o should be displayed (E
The tap electrodes n and Fn are selected, and the AC power source 4 is applied between En and En. Note that the voltage level in this case may be any voltage sufficient to make the bubble liquid crystal 2 substantially transparent, for example, about 50V.

On the other hand, as described above (when the intermediate tap electrodes En, Fn that should display the remaining fuel amount are selected, in this embodiment, En, Fn
En at a certain distance from the electrode of n.

Tap electrodes Em and Fm having a lower level than the electrode Fn are selected, and the two electrodes are short-circuited.

In this case, (En-Fn) to (Em-F
m) The voltage applied between
As shown in the figure, the electrodes Em and F are downward-sloping and short-circuited.
It becomes smaller as the distance approaches m.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the voltage applied to the bubble liquid crystal 2 decreases, the light transmittance decreases and the degree of scattering increases. Therefore, if the voltage between the two electrodes is distributed as shown in Figure 4, the bubble liquid crystal will appear on the panel (as shown in Figure 5).
(En-Fn) has high transmittance and low scattering degree, and (Em-
Fm), the transmittance decreases and the degree of scattering increases.

For this reason, the vehicle occupant is forced to move between the electrodes En and F1 (-) of the display device.
While the display panel 3 on the back can be clearly seen near 11, the visibility decreases as it approaches the area between electrodes Em and Fm, and the visibility decreases as it approaches the area between electrodes Em and Fm (= near J). You can see the color and it just becomes.

By the way, in this case, from the vicinity between the electrodes En and Fn to the electrode E
The change in display mode between m and Fm near f=J is the fifth
As shown in the figure, since the transmittance and degree of scattering change in an analog manner, the color of the display panel 3 changes in an analog manner to the color of the resin in the bubble liquid crystal.

Therefore, when the remaining fuel amount is displayed according to this embodiment, the display can be natural and easy to see as shown in FIG. 6(a).

Note that FIG. 6(b) shows an example in which this embodiment is applied to a speedometer, and FIG. 6(C) shows an example in which it is applied to a water temperature gauge.

Note that the display method of the display device may be a transmission type as shown in FIG. 7(a) or a transmission type as shown in FIG.
It can be of the reflective type shown in , or an intermediate type between the two.

Next, a more specific display system for the operation explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 3 will be explained based on FIG. 8.

E+, . . . -, Em, -EnSF, , -F in Fig. 3
m, . . . , Fn, analog switches 3i1 . Si2 is provided (i=nm.

n>m). Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the signal value from the fuel sensor 41 is input to the microcomputer 42, and the microcomputer 42 receives the analog switch Si1. Si
2 on/off control. Here, a case in which a 12-segment vehicle fuel gauge displays gradation across four segments will be described based on flowchart 1 in FIG. 10.

First, when the vehicle is powered on, the following processing begins.

The microcomputer 42 first reads data L from the fuel sensor 41 (step 201). This data L
Determine which position of the 12 segments corresponds to. That is, from N=12*L/Lo (Lo is the capacity of the fuel tank), it is calculated that the data L corresponds to the Nth segment (step 202). Furthermore, the segment at the rear end of the gradation display is determined.

That is, it is calculated by M=N-4 (step 20
3). Here, 4 of N-4 can be any value. Note that adjustment is made so that the obtained M does not take a negative value. That is, it is determined whether M is smaller than 1 (step 204), and if M is smaller than 1, M is set to 1 (step 205).

Furthermore, if M is 1 or more, M obtained in step 203
Use the value of Then, the analog switches corresponding to each segment are controlled in steps 206 to 213. i=M while increasing by 1 from i=1 to 12
(at the rear end of the gradation) (step 207), from the output port Pil of the microcomputer 42,
i, Pi2 Karari. is output (step 208). As a result, Em and Fm are short-circuited as shown by switches Sml and Sm2 in FIG. If 1=N (the tip of the gradation) (step 209), Hi is output from the output port Pi of the microcomputer 42, and Hi is output from Pi2 (step 210). As a result, En is connected to the liquid crystal drive source, and Fn is grounded, as shown by switches Snl and Sn2 in FIG. Therefore, En-E
A signal voltage is applied between n. If i is neither M nor N, Pil and Pi2 are both. is output (step 211). As a result, En-1 and Fn-1 are released as shown by switches 5n-1.1 and 5n-1.2 in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment as well, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a display device for displaying the remaining fuel amount of a vehicle.

FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, transparent full-surface electrodes 20 are provided on the two sides of the bubble liquid crystal 2.
A metal terminal 2 connected by silver paste or the like is attached to the entire length of the transparent entire surface electrode 20E in the longitudinal direction and the side end thereof.
1 is connected to a reference power supply 30 having a voltage value of V/2. An AC power source 4 having an amplitude voltage V for driving the liquid crystal is pulled up by a reference power source 30 via a capacitor 31. As a result, a voltage of 0 to V centered around V/2 is applied to the liquid crystal and each FET.

On the other hand, on the lower surface side of the bubble liquid crystal 2, there are 12 intermediate tap electrodes F+ + F2 + . . . Fn, . . . Fm, .
...F.

A transparent electrode 1F having a thickness of 2 is bonded to the transparent electrode 1F.

In addition, in this embodiment, as described later, the intermediate tap electrode F
l, F2, -Fn, -Fm, and -F12 are configured so that they can be in three states: voltage applied, grounded, or floating.

On the other hand, the voltage signal corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel inputted from the input side 18 is digitally converted by the A/D converter 17.
Furthermore, the microcomputer 1 is connected via the input port 16.
3 is entered.

Further, latch drivers 11 and 12 are connected to the microcomputer 13 via an output port 19, and control the operations of FET 7.8 connected to the latch driver 11 and FETs 9 and 10 connected to the latch driver 12. Accordingly, the intermediate tap electrodes F, F2...Fn...
-Fm...FL2 is controlled to be in one of three states: voltage application, grounding, or floating.

The basic configuration of this embodiment has been described above. Next, referring to flowchart 1 in FIG. 12, the microcomputer 1
The procedure for displaying the remaining fuel amount executed in step 3 will be explained.

When the program starts, first the A/D converter 1
The remaining fuel amount value converted into digital data in step 7 is read (step 100).

Next, the above fuel remaining amount value is determined as the fuel tank capacity iL.

and multiplied by the number of electrodes, 12 (step 110).

Thereby, the electrode number N to which the AC power source 4 should be applied can be determined.

In this way, when the reference electrode Fn indicating the current remaining amount of fuel is selected, the applied voltage is gradually lowered from electrodes Fn to Fm as in the first embodiment, and the display mode changes in an analog manner. The electrode Fm that has passed a certain distance is selected.
=N-4 (step 120). At this time, in order to prevent M from becoming 0 or less, the magnitude of M and 1 is compared (step 121
If LM<1, M=1 (step 122).

If M≧1, the value of M obtained in step 120 is used.

By the way, the output photo 19 of the microcomputer 13 has an output photo 1-Pn connected to the latch driver 11.
l, Pn2, and an output port Pm4.1 connected to the latch driver 12. Contains Pm2. The output port Pn1 is FET7, and the output port Pn2 is FET7.
The state of the electrode Fn is controlled by controlling ET8. In addition, the output port Pm is controlled by FET9, and the output port Pm2 is controlled by FETl0.
is controlling the state of

On the other hand, in FIG.
An example of the signals of Pnl and Fn2 is shown, and in order to apply a voltage to the electrode Fn, as shown in the figure, Hl and Fn2 are applied to Pnl.
It is sufficient to output a Lo signal to the terminal.

Note that the control example in FIG. 13 is the same for the electrode Fm, so in order to ground the electrode Fm, L(1, Pm
It is only necessary to output the Hl signal to 2.

Therefore, in order to perform the above processing, the selection electrodes Fn, F
m to output ports Pnl, Pn2. Pml.

A signal as shown in step 130 is output from Pm2.

On the other hand, the output capo-1-Pi-1+ for making the unselected electrode Fi (i≠m, n) into a floating state
PI3 is connected to the microcomputer 13, and the Ryokawa Power Boat Pi works and the beam from Pi2. A signal is output (step 140).

In this way, when the signal output from each output port is set to either Hi or Lo, the latch driver 11
．． 12 (step 150) to store the output signal of each output port.

In this way, the tap electrode Fn is in a voltage applied state, the tap electrode Fm is grounded and has the same potential as the front surface electrode 20E, and the other electrodes are in a floating state, so that a display device having a display mode similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained. become.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, when predetermined vehicle data is input, the vehicle display device according to the present invention determines the first position of the display panel corresponding to the vehicle data. determining a second position of the display panel that is a certain distance away from the first position, and applying a potential difference between the transparent electrodes corresponding to the first position of the display panel and corresponding to the second position of the display panel; Since voltages of the same potential are applied between the transparent electrodes, vehicle data is displayed in an analog manner, and various driving information can be recognized without discomfort by vehicle occupants.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of transmittance characteristics when a voltage is applied to a bubble liquid crystal, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a voltage characteristic diagram when two electrodes are selected in the first embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a transmittance of bubble liquid crystal under the voltage characteristics shown in Fig. 4. The characteristic diagram, FIG. 6, is a display example of the display device obtained by the first embodiment, and the seventh
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the display system, Figures 8 and 9 are block diagrams of the first embodiment, Figure 10 is a flowchart 1 showing the processing procedure of the first embodiment, and Figure 11 is a flowchart of the present invention. applied to the second
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for setting a selected electrode to a voltage applied, grounded or floating state; and FIG. The figure shows a display example of a conventional display device. IE, IF...Transparent electrode 2...Bubble liquid crystal (display panel) 3...Display plate 11.12...Latch driver 13...Microcomputer 20E...Transparent entire surface electrode Figure 1, Figure 6 Figure 2 (○) (b) Voltage transmission type Reflective type Figure 8 Figure 12

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display panel in which liquid crystal is sealed in a transparent resin, transparent electrodes bonded to both sides of the display panel, and a display panel that corresponds to vehicle data when predetermined vehicle data is input. a first determining means for determining a first position of the display panel; a second determining means for determining a second position of the display panel that is a certain distance away from the first position of the transparent electrode; A first voltage applying means for applying a potential difference between the transparent electrodes corresponding to the first position, and a second voltage applying means for applying a voltage of the same potential between the transparent electrodes corresponding to the second position of the display panel. A vehicle display device comprising: means.