JPH0341769B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a pulse motor type vehicle instrument.

(Background of the Invention) In motorcycles and the like, the devices loaded on the vehicle need to be small and compact, and it is desirable that the instruments are also as compact as possible. For this reason, in the present invention, a pulse motor-driven tachometer (vehicle instrument), which will be adopted in the future, is used in common as a fuel gauge and an engine temperature gauge, so that one pulse motor has three display functions. or,
In order to make it easier to understand when the fuel amount is low and when the engine temperature is high, an alarm will be issued when these conditions occur.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and is a pulse motor type vehicle that can display the fuel amount and engine temperature using the indicator of the pulse motor type vehicle instrument that displays the engine speed. The purpose is to provide instruments for vehicles.

(Summary of the invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes:
The engine rotation speed is detected by the rotation sensor and the first step number is determined according to the detected engine rotation speed.
a first signal generation circuit that outputs a control signal, an indicator, a pulse motor that drives a pointer of the indicator, and a drive circuit that drives the pulse motor in response to the first control signal. A pulse motor type vehicle instrument includes a fuel amount sensor that detects the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the engine, and an output of the fuel amount sensor and an output of the temperature sensor, respectively. a second signal generation circuit that converts and outputs second and third control signals of the number of steps; and a first, second or third signal generated from the first signal generation circuit or the second signal generation circuit
a switching circuit that outputs one of the control signals to the drive circuit; and an alarm circuit that activates a corresponding alarm when the remaining fuel amount is below a predetermined amount and when the engine temperature is above a predetermined high temperature. The structure is equipped with the following.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a pulse motor type vehicle instrument to which the present invention is applied, which includes an engine rotation speed signal generation circuit (first signal generation circuit) A and a fuel remaining amount/engine temperature signal generation circuit. (second signal generation circuit) B. The engine rotational speed signal generation circuit A is a period counting type circuit,
The engine rotation sensor (Ne sensor) 1 outputs one pulse signal Pn corresponding to the engine rotation speed Ne, for example, for each engine rotation, and this pulse signal Pn is converted into a rectangular wave pulse signal by the waveform shaping circuit 2. After being shaped, it is input to the periodic control circuit 3. Further, the period control circuit 3 operates at a predetermined period (for example,
160μs) and outputs the reference pulse Pc ₁ of counter 5.
Add to.

The period control circuit 3 controls the measurement period of the input pulse Pn, and the measurement period is one period of the input pulse Pn, and the input pulse is output at regular intervals.
Outputs counting stop pulse Pa at the rising edge of Pn,
Counting start pulse Pb at the falling edge of the pulse Pa
is output and added to counter 5.

The counter 5 counts the number of reference pulses Pc ₁ that are input during the counting period, and starts counting the reference pulses Pc ₁ that are input immediately after the start pulse Pb is input.
Stops counting when Pa is input, and stops pulse from when start pulse Pb is input.
Reference pulse input until Pa is input
Count the number of pulses N of Pc ₁ . The count value N of the counter 5 is input to a determination circuit 6 and a division circuit 7.

The division circuit 7 divides a constant value K (for example, 37500) by the count value N input from the counter 5 (K/
N), and outputs a signal corresponding to the division value K/N, which is applied to the determination circuit 6.

The reason why such a division circuit 7 is provided is as follows. That is, in the cycle count type circuit, when the engine speed Ne is low, one cycle of the pulse signal Pn input to the counter 5 via the cycle control circuit 3 is long, so the count value N of the reference pulse Pc ₁ is large. On the other hand, the engine speed
When Ne is high, one period of the pulse signal Pn is short, so the count value N of the reference pulse _Pc1 becomes small. In other words, since the engine speed Ne and the count value N of the reference pulse Pc ₁ are inversely proportional to each other, a period counting type circuit is usually equipped with a division circuit 7, and is calculated by dividing (constant value K) ÷ (reference value). The count value N) of the pulse _Pc1 is calculated to obtain a value K/N that is proportional to the engine speed Ne.

For example, assuming that the input signal pulse Pn is outputted as one pulse per engine revolution, and the pulse period of the reference pulse Pc ₁ is 160 μs, the pulse motor 16 that rotates the instrument needle when the engine revolution speed is 1000 rpm is 10 When setting to advance in steps, one cycle of the signal pulse Pn input to counter 5 at this time is 60 ms, and the count value N of counter 5 is expressed as (60 ms) ÷ (160 μs) = 375. The following formula holds.

(Constant value K)÷375=10 (1) From this equation (1), it can be seen that the constant value K should be set to 3750.

By the way, in the division circuit 7 where the constant value K (=3750) is set, when the engine speed is 6000 rpm, one period of the input signal pulse Pn is 10 ms, and the count value N is (10 ms) ÷ (160 μs) ≒ 62 (counts). The value N can only take an integer value), and the output K/N of the divider circuit 7 is 3750÷62≒60 (this result is also an integer value only), so the pulse motor can move up to 60 steps, and the engine rotation It rotates to 6 times the position compared to the case of several 1000 rpm.

The determination circuit 6 determines the status of the input pulse Pn based on the count value N input from the counter 5, that is,
It is determined whether the engine rotational speed Ne is low and the period of the input pulse Pn is long, or whether the engine rotational speed Ne is high and the period of the input pulse Pn is short. K/
The N or 0 value is output as a first control signal (hereinafter referred to as the first S value) for the number of steps S of the pulse motor 16. That is, the judgment circuit 6 compares the count value N of the reference pulse Pc ₁ with the set value Nc, for example, the value 1024,
When N≧Nc (=1024), engine speed Ne
It is determined that the rotation speed is low and a zero value is output to the switching circuit 25. The engine speed Ne at which the count value N of the reference pulse Pc ₁ corresponds to the set value Nc (=1024) is:
Equal to the number A of pulses Pn input per minute,
The number of input pulses A is A=60 (sec)/1024×160 (μsec)=366 (2), and the engine rotation speed Ne is 366 (rpm).

Then, when the count value N is smaller than the set value Nc (N<Nc), the judgment circuit 6 uses a division circuit 7
The division value K/N inputted from the switch circuit 25 is output to the switching circuit 25.

On the other hand, as is well known, the fuel amount sensor (FUEL sensor) 30 is composed of a variable resistor whose resistance value changes by a float that moves up and down in response to the height of the fuel liquid level in the fuel tank. The corresponding resistance value is set. Further, a temperature sensor (TEMP) sensor 31 is constituted by a thermistor or the like, and is set to a resistance value corresponding to the temperature of the engine. The remaining fuel amount and engine temperature signal generation circuit B is configured as follows. FUEL/TEMP
The input circuit 32 converts the change in the resistance value of the fuel amount sensor 31 corresponding to the change in fuel amount and the change in the resistance value of the temperature sensor 31 corresponding to the engine temperature into voltage changes, and compares the two voltages V _F and V _T . Output to circuit 33.

The timing pulse generation circuit 34 includes a plurality of, for example, 5 timing pulse generation circuits.
outputs timing pulses _P1 to _P5 . D-
The A conversion circuit 36 inputs the timing pulses P ₁ to P ₅ outputted from the timing pulse generation circuit 34 via the output buffer circuit 35, and changes the timing pulses P ₁ to _{P 5} in a plurality of steps, for example, 32 steps. The reference voltage V _A (O, V _A1 , V _A2 ,...,
V _A31 ) (see FIG. 2) and outputs it to the comparison circuit 33. This reference voltage V _A is output at regular intervals as shown in FIG.

The comparison circuit 33 compares the voltage V _F corresponding to the fuel amount and the voltage V _T corresponding to the engine temperature inputted from the input circuit 32 with the reference voltage V _A inputted from the D-A conversion circuit 36, and Judgment signals _eF and _eT corresponding to the results are output to a conversion circuit 37, which will be described later. One of these judgment signals e _F is the second
As shown in the figure, when the voltage V _F is higher than the reference voltage V _A , it is output as a high level "H" signal, and when it is lower, it is output as a low level "L" signal. or,
The other judgment signal e _T is an “H” signal when the voltage V _T is higher than the voltage V _A , and is an “L” signal when it is lower.
is output as a signal. In addition, voltage V _F or voltage
When V _T is equal to the reference voltage V _A , the signal e _F or the signal e _T may be set to "H" or may be set to "L".

The conversion circuit 37 receives the determination signal from the comparison circuit 33.
In addition to inputting e _F and e _T , timing pulses P ₁ to _{P 5} are input from the timing pulse generation circuit 34, and first, when the signals e _F and e _T change from "H" to "L", respectively, Timing pulse P ₁ ~ _{P 5}
(refer to Figure 2). and,
These held timing pulses P ₁ to _{P 5} are converted into second and third numbers indicating the corresponding step numbers of the pulse motor 16 by the conversion tables shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b stored in the circuit 37. These S values are converted into S values (for example, 10 to 40 and 80 to 100), and these S values are output to the switching circuit 25.

The switching circuit 25 is the engine rotation speed signal generation circuit A or the remaining fuel amount/engine temperature signal generation circuit B.
Selects and outputs any one of the first, second, or third S value inputted from the input terminal. The switching circuit 2
5 is controlled by a switching control circuit C, which is constructed as follows.

The switch input circuit 26 is for controlling the switching circuit 25, and is for controlling the manual switches 27 and 2.
8 are connected in parallel, and these switches 27, 2
8 are both open (OFF), the switching circuit 25 outputs the first S value input from the engine rotational speed signal generation circuit A to the drive circuit D, which will be described later. Moreover, the switching circuit 25 is a manual switch 27.
is closed (ON), the second S input from the remaining fuel amount/engine temperature signal generation circuit B
When the manual switch 28 is closed, the third S value input from the signal generating circuit B is output. The manual switches 27 and 28 are configured, for example, as button type switches so that they are not closed at the same time.

The S value output by the switching circuit 25 is the pulse motor 1.
The signal is inputted to a drive circuit D that drives and controls 7, and the drive circuit D is configured as follows.

The comparison circuit 8 compares the S value inputted from the switching circuit 25 with a count value M of a counter 12, which will be described later, and provides a signal for determining whether the difference is large or small, and a signal for determining whether the count values are equal or not. It outputs the signal ea. This large or small judgment signal ea
For example, when the S value input from the switching circuit 25 is greater than the count value M of the counter 12, the signal becomes "H".
If it is small, it is output as an "L" signal.

In addition, if the difference is equal, it may be set to "H" or may be set to "L".

Further, a determination signal is provided for determining whether or not the S value output from the switching circuit 25 and the count value M of the counter 12 are equal.
For example, if eb is equal, the signal is "L",
If not, it is output as an "H" signal.

The gate circuit 13 is opened when the signal eb output from the comparator circuit 8 is "H" when there is a difference between the S value input to the comparator circuit 8 and the count value M of the counter 12, and is used as a reference for driving the pulse motor. Reference pulse Pc ₂ continuously generated from the pulse generation circuit 14
At that time, the reference pulse Pc ₂ is input to the distribution circuit 15 and the counter 12, which will be described later, and the signal eb output when the output S of the switching circuit 25 and the count value M of the counter 12 are equal. The input of the reference pulse Pc ₂ to the distribution circuit 15 and the counter 12 is cut off.

The counter 12 consists of an up-down counter, and operates so that the count value M matches the S value inputted to the comparison circuit 8, and the large or small judgment signal ea always inputted from the comparison circuit 8 is "H". Or, by "L", a counting process of addition (up counting) or subtraction (down counting) is performed on the currently held count value for the number of reference pulses _Pc2 input. That is, when the output signal ea of the comparator circuit 8 is "H", the reference pulse Pc ₂ is applied to the gate circuit 13.
The count value of the counter 12 increases by 1 each time the signal passes through and is input, and conversely decreases by 1 when the signal is "L". Furthermore, when the S value and the count value M of the counter 10 become equal, the output signal eb of the comparator circuit 8 becomes "L".
As a result, the gate circuit 13 is closed, the reference pulse Pc ₂ from the reference pulse generation circuit 14 is not input to the counter 12, and the operation of the counter 12 is stopped. A CR circuit is connected to the front stage of the counter 12 to form a reset circuit that resets the count value to zero when the circuit power is input, so that the count value of the counter 12 always starts from zero when the vehicle is started, and the count value is set to zero when the circuit power is input. The initial operation of the meter always starts from the zero position.

Similar to the counter 12, the distribution circuit 15 is designed to always receive a large or small judgment signal ea from the comparator circuit 8, and depending on its "H" or "L", the pulse motor 16 is rotated in the normal direction. Or distribute the reference pulse Pc ₂ so as to reverse it.

That is, when the output signal ea of the comparator circuit 8 is "H", the distribution circuit 15 outputs the pulse motor 16 every time the reference pulse Pc ₂ passes through the gate circuit 13 and is input.
The reference pulse Pc ₂ is sequentially distributed in the direction of causing the pulse motor 16 to rotate forward, and conversely, when the pulse motor 16 is at "L", the reference pulse Pc ₂ is sequentially distributed in the direction of rotating the pulse motor 16 in the reverse direction.

The pointer of the indicator 17 follows the rotation of the pulse motor 16 and indicates the current engine rotation speed Ne.
The dial 18 of the indicator 17 has step numbers 0 to 100 arranged at equal intervals along the circumference as shown in FIG.
A number from 0 to 10 representing the step number is written, and inside the number, the letter E indicating fuel empty (EMPTY) is written in the position corresponding to the number 1 representing the step number 10, and the number 4 representing the step number 40 is written in the position corresponding to the number 4. A letter F indicating a full fuel tank (FULL) is written in , and a fractional character 1/2 is written in the middle position between these characters, so that the remaining amount of fuel is displayed between the letters E to F. or,
Number 8 representing step number 80, letter H indicating engine heating (HOT) in the corresponding position, and step number
Engine cooling in the position corresponding to the number 10 representing 100,
The letter C indicating the interval (COOL) is written.

On the other hand, the second and third S values output from the conversion circuit 37 are input to the alarm circuit E. The alarm circuit E is composed of a comparison circuit 40 and a lighting circuit 41. The comparison circuit 40 compares the second S value representing the remaining amount of fuel with a predetermined value S _F (for example, 12),
If the second S value is less than the predetermined value _SF , it means that the remaining amount of fuel is small, and at this time, a signal F is output to the ignition circuit 41. The lighting circuit 41 receives the signal F
When inputted, a light emitting diode (LED) 42 serving as an alarm emits light. Further, the comparison circuit 40 compares the third S value representing the engine temperature with a predetermined value S _T (for example, 82), and if the third S value is less than the predetermined value S _T , the engine temperature is lowered. This means that the temperature is high, and at this time a signal T is output to the ignition circuit 41. The lighting circuit 41 causes a light emitting diode (LED) 43 serving as an alarm to emit light when the signal T is input.

(Function) Next, the function of the pulse motor type vehicle meter of the present invention configured as described above will be explained.

The switching circuit 25 is controlled by operating the manual switch 27 or 28, and the indicator 17 displays the engine rotation speed by the engine rotation speed signal generation circuit A and the fuel amount or engine temperature by the remaining fuel amount/engine temperature signal generation circuit B. Any one of the display
It is possible to selectively display two types of display.

Furthermore, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank is low, the light emitting diode 42 is turned on by the alarm circuit E, so that even if the indicator 17 is not displaying the fuel amount, when the remaining fuel amount is low, the state is indicated. Recognize. Further, when the engine temperature is high, the light emitting diode 43 is turned on, so that even if the indicator 17 is not displaying the engine temperature, the state can be known when the engine temperature is high.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, the pulse motor type vehicle instrument of the present invention detects the engine rotation speed using the rotation sensor and outputs the first control signal with the number of steps corresponding to the detected engine rotation speed. A pulse motor vehicle comprising: a first signal generation circuit for controlling a signal; an indicating instrument; a pulse motor for driving a pointer of the indicating instrument; and a drive circuit for driving the pulse motor in accordance with the first control signal. The meter includes a fuel amount sensor that detects the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the engine, and a second step number corresponding to the output of the fuel amount sensor and the output of the temperature sensor. and a second signal generation circuit that converts and outputs a third control signal, and any one of the first, second, or third control signal from the first signal generation circuit or the second signal generation circuit. The present invention is equipped with a switching circuit that outputs two control signals to the drive circuit, and an alarm circuit that activates a corresponding alarm when the remaining fuel level is below a predetermined amount and when the engine temperature is above a predetermined high temperature. The indicator of the pulse motor type vehicle instrument that displays the number can display the fuel amount and engine temperature,
Furthermore, even if the indicator shows a different display, it is possible to prevent the fact that the remaining amount of fuel is small and the engine temperature is high from being overlooked.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a pulse motor type vehicle meter according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a table showing the generation of a reference voltage by timing pulses, and FIG. 3 is a time period of the reference voltage shown in FIG. A characteristic diagram, FIG. 4 is a timing pulse-to-meter step number conversion table, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the dial of the indicating instrument shown in FIG. A...Engine speed signal generation circuit (first signal generation circuit), B...Fuel remaining amount/engine temperature signal generation circuit (second signal generation circuit), C...Switching control circuit, D...Drive Circuit, E...Alarm circuit, 1
...Rotation sensor, 16...Pulse motor, 17...
...Indication instrument, 25...Switching circuit, 30...Fuel amount sensor, 31...Temperature sensor, 42, 43...Light emitting diode (alarm device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first signal generation circuit that detects the engine rotation speed using a rotation sensor and outputs a first control signal with a number of steps corresponding to the detected engine rotation speed, an indicator, and a pointer of the indicator. A pulse motor type vehicle instrument comprising: a pulse motor that drives the pulse motor; and a drive circuit that drives the pulse motor in response to the first control signal; a second signal generation circuit that converts and outputs the output of the fuel amount sensor and the temperature sensor into second and third control signals having corresponding numbers of steps, respectively; a switching circuit that outputs any one of a first, second, or third control signal from the first signal generation circuit or the second signal generation circuit to the drive circuit; What is claimed is: 1. A pulse motor vehicle instrument comprising: an alarm circuit that activates a corresponding alarm when the following conditions occur and when the engine temperature is higher than a predetermined high temperature: