JPH0566965B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a multiple display device for a vehicle that is installed in a vehicle's instrument panel and displays various information regarding the vehicle in the form of characters, figures, etc. The present invention relates to a multi-display device for a vehicle in which the visibility of a fixed display section as a scale and a movable display section as a pointer at the top is improved.

(Prior art) In vehicle instrument panels, instead of conventional mechanical movable pointers, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-89012, a fixed display as a scale drawn on the display surface has been used. A display device is used in which a large number of light-emitting segments are arranged along the line and a desired analog quantity is displayed by sequentially emitting light from these light-emitting segments.

Recently, multiple display devices have been put into practical use that use display surfaces made of EL elements, liquid crystals, etc. to selectively display desired vehicle running information and warning information on the instrument panel. .

In this case, since various information is displayed by switching the display screen using a changeover switch, the fixed display section as a scale on one display screen is used to display the pointer only when that screen is selected. The image is displayed using a movable display section and a large number of display pixels on the display surface. In this case, unlike the case of the above-mentioned publication in which the pointer and the scale are provided independently of each other, when the display control is performed so that the pointer moves in a manner that overlaps the scale, the edge of the pointer There is a problem in that the edges of the scales overlap and are close to each other or overlap, resulting in extremely poor visibility.

(Object of the Invention) In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a multiple display device for a vehicle that improves the relative visibility of a fixed display section as a scale on a display surface and a movable display section as a pointer. With the goal.

(Structure of the Invention) As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a display means and a display control means. This display means has a large number of display pixels that are illuminated in a predetermined display color to generate a display, and is arranged on the instrument panel of the vehicle. Further, the display control means controls lighting of the display pixels according to predetermined display data, and displays a fixed display section as a scale and a movable display section as a pointer that moves along the scale on the display means. The width of the fixed display section in the moving direction of the movable display section is set to be larger than the width of the movable display section. Further, the display control means includes a display movement control section and a display color control section. When the movable display section and the fixed display section are overlapped when the movable display section is moved, the display movement control section is configured to prevent the edges of both display sections from overlapping each other and prevent the overlapping section from overlapping the movable display section and the fixed display section. is completely included in the fixed display section, and on the other hand, when the overlapping portion does not occur, the movable display section is controlled to move in such a manner that the edges of both display sections do not overlap. Further, the display color control section controls the display color of the overlapping portion of both display sections to be different from at least the display color of the fixed display section.

(Effect of the invention) With the above configuration, the edge of the movable display section as a pointer does not overlap the edge of the fixed display section as a scale, so even if both display sections are close to each other, there is no gap between the two display sections. If both display parts are overlapped, the overlapping part will be displayed as being completely included in the fixed display part, so the fixed display part will not appear to be missing, and the overlap will be avoided. Coupled with the fact that the display color of the portion is different from at least the display color of the fixed display section, there is an advantage that visibility is improved.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a driver's seat of an automobile equipped with a display unit of a multiple display device according to the present invention, and 20 is an instrument panel;
21 is a steering wheel, and 22 is a display screen installed on the instrument panel 20. The display screen 22 consists of a fixed display area 23 in which predetermined information is always displayed, and a multiple display area 24 in which a plurality of, for example, three types of display screens are selectively displayed by operating a changeover switch.
The three types of display contents displayed in this multiple display area 24 include, for example, a ``tachometer-centered display'' centered on the tachometer, and an ``all-item display'' that displays almost the same information as that displayed on a normal automobile instrument panel. display",
and "safety monitor display". Third
The figure shows the display screen 24a of "octopus center display".

Referring to FIG. 3, on the display screen 24a, an engine tachometer 25 and a torque split indicator 26 indicating the state of power distribution to the front and rear wheels of a four-wheel drive system are arranged, and a turbo overload indicator is located at the bottom. A supply pressure gauge 27, a water temperature gauge 28, and a fuel gauge 29 are arranged.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the electronic circuit of a multiple display device according to the invention. 31 is a controller that calculates data input from each sensor and switch according to a control program, and also displays the display 3.
The controller 33 includes a microcomputer that performs processing to control the operation of the controller 2.
The terminals of the controller 31 are power supply terminals connected to the battery 34, and the terminals ~ are fuel, turbocharging pressure,
This is an input terminal for data from each sensor that outputs data representing engine rotation and vehicle speed, and the terminal is connected to an ignition switch. Terminals ~ are input terminals connected to switches for selecting the aforementioned three types of display contents displayed in the multiple display area 24 of FIG. 2, respectively. Furthermore, the terminal ~ is an input terminal connected to each switch for warnings such as insufficient brake fluid, poor charging, insufficient engine oil, abnormal exhaust pipe heat generation, insufficient cooling water, door ajar, tail lamp blown, stop lamp blown, and seatbelt non-operation. It is connected to a switch which is closed in each case of installation. The output of the controller 33 is
The signal is output from the controller 31 via the interface 35 and applied to the interface 37 of the display 32 via the signal line 36. The output of this interface 37 is given to a driver 38, and a display section 39 is driven.

In the above configuration, the controller 3 in FIG.
When the switch connected to terminal No. 1 is selected, an octopus center display screen 24a as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the multiple display area 24 of FIG. For example, on the fuel gauge 29 of the display screen 24a, a fixed scale 41 and a movable pointer 42 that moves along the X-axis (horizontal axis) are displayed in different display colors. 5A to 5C are schematic explanatory diagrams of the moving operation of the movable pointer 42, and the pointer processing by the display movement control section is executed according to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

First, referring to FIG. 5A, the display screen 24a
Moving direction of the movable pointer 42 at the top (X-axis direction)
The width at is defined as one dot width of the display element, and ten one dot width areas 1 to 1 are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction.
Set 10. The fixed scale 41 is displayed in areas 5 to 7 with a width of 3 dots, and the movable pointer 42 is displayed on the fixed pointer 41.
In the area where does not exist, area 1 → area 3 → area 5
Assume that control is performed to move two dots at a time along the X-axis in this manner.

In FIG. 6, the process advances to step S1 every predetermined cycle, and the remaining amount of fuel is input in accordance with the output of the fuel sensor to the terminal of the control section 31 in FIG. The pointer 42 is displayed on area 1, as shown at 1 in FIG. 5A. Next, the guideline 42
The position to which the pointer moves is region 3, where the position of the pointer 42 is calculated in step S2 of FIG. 6, and the positions of both edges of the scale 41 are read out in step S3. Then proceed to step S4 and set the pointer 4.
It is determined whether the edge position of No. 2 matches the edge position of the scale 41 or not. If the determination result is NO, that is, if neither the front edge e ₁ nor the rear edge e ₂ coincide with the edge of the scale 41 in the moving direction of the pointer 42, the process advances to step S5 and the next scale is moved. Read both edge positions. Next, in step S6, it is determined whether all the scales have been read out. If NO, the process returns to step S4; if YES, the process proceeds to step S7, and the area 3 is read out as shown in FIG. 5A-2.
A pointer 42 is displayed on the screen.

The next position to which the pointer 42 moves is region 5 as shown by the broken line 3 in FIG. 5A, but in this case,
Since the determination result in step S4 of FIG. 6 is YES, the process proceeds to step S8, where the scale
It is determined whether the front edge e ₁ of the pointer 42 matches the edge of the pointer 42 . When the pointer 42 moves to area 5, the rear edge _e2 of the pointer 42 coincides with the edge of the scale 41, so the determination in step S8 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S9, where the pointer 42 is moved by one dot. Then, in step S7, the pointer 42 is displayed in area 6, that is, in the center position of the scale 41. In this case, the display color control unit moves the pointer 42 to the scale 4.
Processing is performed to display the color of the superimposed portion 43 on the area 6 that overlaps with 1 in a display color that is at least different from the display color of the scale 41, and preferably in a display color that is different from both the scale 41 and the pointer 42.

The next position to which the pointer 42 moves is region 8 as shown by the broken line 4 in FIG. Then, it is determined whether or not the front edge _e1 of the pointer 42 coincides with the edge of the scale 41. Even when the pointer 42 moves to area 8, the rear edge _e2 of the pointer 42 is located at the edge of the scale 41, so the determination in step S8 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S9 to move the pointer 42 by one dot. The pointer 42 is displayed in the area 9 in step S7.

Fig. 5B shows that the scale 41 is 1 more than that of Fig. 5A.
The position shifted to the right by a dot, that is, area 6
-8 are displayed. In this case, the processing in steps 1 and 2 in FIG. 5 is the same as in steps 1 and ₂ in FIG.
coincides with the edge of Therefore, the steps in Figure 6
The judgment in S8 is YES, and the process continues step by step.
Moving on to S10, the pointer 42 is moved as shown in 3 of Fig. 5B.
Then, in step S7, the pointer 42 is displayed in area 7, that is, in the center position of the scale 41. In this case as well, a process is performed in which the overlapping portion 43 on the area 7 where the pointer 42 overlaps the scale 41 is displayed in a display color different from at least the display color of the scale 41.

The next position to which the pointer 42 moves is region 9 as shown by the broken line at 4 in FIG. 5B, but in this case as well, as in the case of 4 in FIG.
Since the determination result in S4 is YES and the determination result in step S8 is NO, the process proceeds to step S7 via step S9, and the pointer 42 is displayed in area 10.

In FIG. 5C, the scale 41 is in areas 5 to 8 with a width of 4 dots.
This is the case when it is displayed. In this case, the processing until the pointer 42 reaches the area 6 where it overlaps the scale 41 as shown in 1 in FIG. 5C is 1 and 2 in FIG. 5A.
However, the next moving position of the pointer 42 on area 6 is area 8 where the front edge e ₁ of the pointer 42 coincides with the edge of the scale 41. Therefore, the determination results in step S4 and step S8 in FIG. 6 are both YES, and the process moves to step S10, where the pointer 42 is moved by two dots as shown at 2 in FIG. 5C, and step S7 is performed. The pointer 42 is displayed in area 10.

As is clear from the above description, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pointer 42 is controlled to move so that the edge of the pointer 42 does not overlap the edge of the scale 41, and the pointer 42 is moved above the scale 41. When the overlapping portion 43 is completely included in the scale 41, the display movement control unit moves the pointer 42 so that the overlapping portion 43 is completely included in the scale 41, and the display color of the overlapping portion 43 is changed to the scale 41 and the display movement control unit. Since the display color control section performs control to make the display color of the pointer 42 different from that of the pointer 42, the pointer 42
visibility can be significantly improved. In the embodiment, the width of the pointer 42 is set to 1 dot width, but it may be set to 2 dots wide, and even in that case, the scale is set to 4 dots wide, and an overlapping portion occurs between the pointer and the scale. In such a case, the pointer should be controlled to move in such a manner that the edges of the pointer and the scale do not overlap and the overlapping portion is completely included within the scale.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the driver's seat of a car equipped with a display unit of a multiple display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a screen displayed in the multiple display area of the display screen. 4 is a block diagram of the electronic circuit of the device according to the present invention, FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic illustrations of the moving operation of the movable pointer, and FIG. It is a flowchart. 20...Instrument panel, 21...Handle, 22...
Display screen, 23...Fixed display area, 24...Multiple display area, 25...Tachometer, 29...Fuel gauge, 31...Controller, 32...Display device, 33...
Controller, 35, 37...Interface, 38...Driver, 39...Display unit, 41...
...Fixed scale, 42...Movable pointer, 43...Overlapping portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A display means disposed on a vehicle instrument panel having a large number of display pixels that are lit in a predetermined display color to generate a display, and according to predetermined display data. A fixed display section as a scale and a movable display section as a pointer that moves along the scale are produced on the display means by controlling lighting of the display pixels, and display control means configured to set the width of the fixed display section to be larger than the width of the movable display section, and the display control means, when the movable display section is moved, between the movable display section and the fixed display section. If an overlapping portion occurs between the two display portions, the edges of both display portions do not overlap, and the overlapping portion is completely contained within the fixed display portion, while the overlapping portion is If not, a display movement control section that controls the movable display section to move in such a manner that the edges of both display sections do not overlap; 1. A multi-display device for a vehicle, comprising: a display color control section that controls the display colors to be different.