JPH07117547B2 - Vehicle speedometer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The present invention is for a vehicle in which the speed indication indicated by the pointer can be switched on the same display plate during low speed traveling and high speed traveling. Regarding speedometer.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, most of the speedometers of vehicles are analog type so that the speed change can be visually recognized, and the display plate has a substantially uniform scale distribution over the entire display area from the minimum speed to the maximum speed. The current speed can be visually confirmed by indicating each scale while the pointer moves.

For example, in a pointer-rotating type vehicle speedometer, as shown in FIG. 7, a scale 2 and a numeral 3 on the surface of a display plate 1 are formed at uniform intervals from a low speed region to a high speed region.
The pointer 4 connected to the movement indicates this while sequentially rotating.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such graduation distribution, the reading accuracy of the indication value by the pointer 4 depends on the size of the interval between the graduations. To the maximum speed had to be evenly divided, and the reading accuracy was reduced accordingly.

As a means for solving this kind of problem, it is sufficient to increase the area of the display plate or to set the wide deflection angle to increase the graduation interval, but in reality, there are dimensional restrictions in terms of compatibility with other equipment. However, there was a problem that the swing angle limit of the movement was limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to switch the speed display indicated by the pointer in the low-speed display area and the high-speed display area on the same display plate, thereby changing the speed of each area. The present invention provides a vehicle speedometer capable of improving reading accuracy.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention is
The display of the display plate (10) pointed by the pointer (14) is shared by the low-speed display area and the high-speed display area, and the low-speed area display numeral (18) and the high-speed area display numeral (20) are used according to each display area.
In addition to arranging two columns side by side, there is an overlapping numeral area for the maximum part of the low speed area display numeral (18) and the lowest part of the high speed area display numeral (20). When the first value in the overlapping numeral area of 18) is reached, a switching signal for switching from the low speed area display numeral (18) side to the high speed area display numeral (20) side is output, and for high speed area display when the speed is decreasing. Number (20) for high-speed area display when the second value in the overlapping numeral area of the numeral (20) is reached
A comparison signal (52) for outputting a switching signal for switching from the side to the low speed region display numeral (18) side, the first value being set to be larger than the second value, and the comparison means (52). 52) The first switching for switching the measurement range of the driving movement (30) of the pointer (14) to the low speed area display numeral (18) side or the high speed area display numeral (20) side in response to the switching signal from the 52). One side of the low speed area display numeral (18) and the high speed area display numeral (20) is displayed according to the switching signal of the means (48) and the comparison means (52), and the other side is displayed. The second switching means (56) for extinguishing is used.

(Operation) In the present invention, (a-1) if the vehicle is traveling in the low speed display area from zero speed, the low speed area display numeral (18) side is the display plate (10).
The pointer (14) displayed above is driven in the measuring range on the low speed region display numeral (18) side.

(B-1) When the speed reaches the first value of the overlapping numeral area in the numeral for low speed area display (18), the numeral for high speed area display (20) is displayed on the display plate (10) and the pointer ( 14)
Is driven in the measurement range on the high speed area display numeral (20) side.

(B-2) At this time, the low speed area display numeral (18) disappears from the display plate (10) by the second switching means (56) and disappears. That is, only one of the low speed area display numeral (18) and the high speed area display numeral (20) is displayed, and the speed is not mistaken.

(B-3) When the speed decreases immediately after moving to the high speed area display numeral (20) side as described above, the second value of the overlapping numeral area in the high speed area display numeral (20) It will be displayed on the high-speed area display number (20) until it reaches. That is, since the second value is smaller than the first value, even if the speed becomes smaller than the speed at the time of moving to the high speed area display numeral (20) side, the high speed area display numeral (20) is displayed. It will be.

(B-4) And, the speed is a number for high speed area display (20)
When the second value of the overlapping numeral area in is reached, the low speed area display numeral (18) is displayed on the display plate (10), and the pointer (14) is the low speed area display numeral (18) side measurement range. Driven by.

(B-5) When the speed increases immediately after moving from the high-speed area display numeral (20) side to the low-speed area display numeral (18) side in this way, duplication in the low-speed area display numeral (18) It will be displayed on the low speed area display numeral (18) side until it reaches the first value in the numeral area. That is, the first value is larger than the second value, so the number for low-speed area display (18)
Even if the speed becomes higher than the speed when moving to the side, it will be displayed with the low speed area display numeral (18).

(B-6) Therefore, immediately after switching to the high speed area display numeral (20), immediately after switching to the low speed area display numeral (18) or switching to the low speed area display numeral (18). , It is possible to easily confirm the speed in a stable state without switching to the high speed area display numeral (20) again.

(C-1) In addition, since the low speed area display numeral (18) and the high speed area display numeral (20) are arranged in two columns,
Even if the area of the display plate (10) is the same, it is possible to widen the interval between the low speed area display numeral (18) and the high speed area display numeral (20).

(C-2) Therefore, the visibility can be improved and the reading error can be reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, one example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the appearance and mounting structure of a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 10 is a peripheral edge of the front cover 12.
It is a display plate which is covered with, and is exposed in a substantially semicircular shape, and a pointer 14 is arranged at the center of the front part of the display plate 10.

A scale (display means) 16 is arranged on the front surface of the display plate 10 at the periphery of the pointer 14, and a low speed area display numeral 18 for displaying the speed of the low speed display area is provided on the inner peripheral side of the scale 16.
However, a high-speed area display numeral 20 indicating the speed of the high-speed display area is formed on the outer peripheral side of the scale 16.

The numeral 18 for low speed area display is 20km / h from 40 to 140km / h
It is shown in intervals, and the number 20 for high-speed area display is 80 to 28.
It gives instructions up to 0km / h at 40km / h intervals. However, the number 20 for high-speed area display corresponding to 80 km / h is missing on the display.

Here, the maximum part of the numeral 18 for low speed area display and the minimum part of the numeral 20 for high speed area display are 80 to 140 km / h in this embodiment.
Have overlapping digit areas in the speed range. And
140km / h of the overlapping numeral area in the numeral 18 for speed area display
The point (first value) is the switching point to the high speed area display numeral 20, and the 125 km / h point (second value) of the overlapping numeral area in the high speed area display numeral 20 is the low speed area display. Number eighteen
It is a switching point to. That is, in this embodiment, the first value is larger than the second value by 15 km / h.

In forming the scale 16 and the numerals 18 and 20, the structure shown in FIG. 3 below is adopted.

In FIG. 3, 10a is a display board material made of a black transparent material such as black, 10b is a matte translucent layer coated on the front surface of the display board material 10a, and 10c is formed on the back surface of the display board material 10a. A black opaque layer, the scale 16 and the numbers 18, 20 as previously described by omitting the printing of the black opaque layer 10c.
Is engraved with the display surface facing the front side.

Then, the scale 16 and the numbers 18, 20 on the back surface of the display board 10
LEDs (second switching means) 24, 26, and 28 are arranged at positions corresponding to, respectively, in a state of being partitioned by the partition 22, and by lighting these, the scale is displayed on the front surface of the display board 10.
16 and the numbers 18 and 20 in each area are displayed or disappeared.

Note that, in reality, the display LEDs 26 and 28 of the numbers 18 and 20 are in a state in which one is turned on by the system described later, the other is turned off, and both are not turned on at the same time. Further, the lighting LED 24 of the scale 16 has the above-mentioned respective numbers 18, 20.
It shows a common index corresponding to, and is always lit when the ignition key is on.

On the back surface of the display board 10, a movement 30 for driving the pointer 14, a printed circuit board 32 having the movement 30 arranged at the center, and a rear cover 36 connected to the back surface of the printed circuit board 32 via a spacer 34. Is equipped with.

On the left and right of the movement 30, the control of the movement 30 and the LEs are provided on the printed circuit board 32.
A drive circuit component 38 for controlling the lighting of D26, 28 is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing a drive mechanism for the movement 30 and the LEDs 26, 28, which is constituted by the drive circuit component 38.

In FIG. 4, a pulse signal from a speed detection sensor 40 such as a rotary encoder for speed detection provided on an output shaft of an engine is input to a frequency / voltage conversion circuit 46 via a filter circuit 42 and a waveform shaping circuit 44. The voltage is converted, a drive signal is sent to the drive circuit 50 of the movement 30 through the constant switching circuit (first switching means) 48, and the pointer 14 is rotated in a predetermined manner in proportion to the detection value of the speed detection sensor 40. It is designed to be displaced at an angle.

The output of the waveform shaping circuit 44 is the other conversion circuit.
The voltage is converted at 46 ', and this output signal is input to one input end of the comparison circuit (comparison means) 52.

A setting signal from a setter (setting means) 54 for discriminating between the low speed display area and the high speed display area is input to the input end on the other end side of the comparison circuit 52, and the comparison circuit 52 outputs the setting signal and the input signal. Compare.

That is, the comparison circuit 52 indicates that the input signal is 140 km / h
Whether or not the output signal corresponds to (first value) or less is compared by always referring to the setter 54, and a switching signal is output to the constant switching circuit 48 in a state in which the reference speed is exceeded. At the same time, a switching signal is output to the lighting switching circuit (second switching means) 56 for the display LEDs 26, 28 of the respective numbers 18, 20.

The constant switching circuit 48 has a low speed range, that is, 140 kph.
With a voltage corresponding to m / h (first value) as the upper limit, a signal proportional to this is output to the drive circuit 50,
At 140 km / h or higher, the high-speed driving range is reached, and a half voltage value is output to the drive circuit 50.

As a result, the pointer 14 rotates counterclockwise when the speed exceeds 140 km / h, and the pointer is again rotated in proportion to the speed above.
14 rotates clockwise.

At the same time, the high-speed display LED 28 is turned on and the low-speed display LED 26 is turned off, so that the low-speed area display numeral 18 is switched to the high-speed area display numeral 20.

If the rotation angle of the pointer 14 immediately changes at 140 km / h when the speed starts to drop from the high-speed display area to the low-speed display area, for example, if 140 km / h is slightly raised or lowered during low-speed driving. The pointer 14 swings to a large degree, and the driver is confused.

However, in this embodiment, as described above, 125 km / h
Since the (second value) is the switching point, the comparison circuit
52 determines when the speed is increasing and when it is descending.
The speed range is given so that the display changes to the low speed running mode only when the speed falls below 5 km / h. As shown by the characteristic curve in FIG. 5, the rotation characteristics of the pointer 14 and the LEDs 26, 28 The blinking timing is different when the speed is increasing and when the speed is decreasing.

Therefore, as mentioned above, the overlapping numeral area is provided for the numbers 18 and 20, and the first value (140km / h) is set to be larger than the second value (125km / h). Guideline
Even if there is slight vibration in the display area 14, mode switching between the low speed display area and the high speed display area does not frequently occur, and the reading accuracy of the display plate 10 is improved.

FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (f) show the display operation of the speedometer configured as described above. First, as shown in FIG. 6 (a),
When the ignition key is turned off, all the graduations 16 on the display board 10 and the LEDs 24, 26, 28 for lighting the numbers 18, 20 are off, so that the graduations 16 and the respective numbers 18, 20 are the display board material 10a. Is a dark color, and due to the matte semi-transparent layer 10b formed on the surface, there is no difference in contrast between the display part and other parts, and when viewed from the outside due to diffuse reflection of external light, the display plate 10 Nothing is visible on the board, only the pointer 14 is visible.

When the ignition key is turned on and the engine is started from this state, the LEDs 24 and 26 are turned on as shown in FIG. 6 (b), and the scale 16 and the low speed region display numeral 18 are displayed on the display plate 10.

The high-speed area display numeral 20 is kept in the same state as that shown in FIG. 6 (a) because the LED 28 is off and the partition 22 divides it so that it cannot be seen from the outside. It has become.

Further, the scale 16 remains displayed since the LED 24 continues to light up regardless of the traveling area from the state where the ignition key is turned on.

When the vehicle starts traveling from this state and the speed rises and the speed exceeds 140 km / h as shown in FIG. 6 (c), a switching signal is output from the comparison circuit 52, and the constant switching circuit 48 and the lighting switching circuit. As a result of switching 56, turning on the LED 28 and turning off the LED 26, the high speed area display numeral 20 is displayed on the display plate 10, and the pointer 14 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. , Number 2 near 140km / h in high-speed display area
Speed number 2 which corresponds to the increase in speed after instructing 0
Specify 0.

When the speed decreases from this state and the speed falls below 125 km / h as shown in FIG. 6 (e), the comparison circuit 52 outputs a switching signal to the low speed side this time, and this is shown in FIG. 6 (f). As shown above, by switching the LEDs 26 and 28 in the opposite manner, the display is switched to the low speed area display numeral 18, and the pointer 14 is rotated clockwise to indicate the numeral 18 near 125 km / h in the low speed display area. To do.

In the above display operation, the scale 16 is shared by the low-speed display area and the high-speed display area.
The LED 24 for displaying 16 does not require this kind of blinking control, and the control circuit for switching can be simplified accordingly.

Further, although the present invention has been described by using the discrete circuit in this embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be configured by, for example, a one-chip microcomputer.

Further, although LEDs are used as the light emitters in the above embodiments, it goes without saying that they may be replaced with lamp bulbs.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail with reference to the embodiments above, in the vehicle speedometer according to the present invention, (a-1) if the vehicle is traveling in the low speed display area from zero speed, The low speed area display numeral side is displayed on the display plate, and the pointer is driven in the measurement range of the low speed area display numeral side.

(B-1) When the speed reaches the first value of the overlapping numeral area in the low speed area display numeral, the high speed area display numeral is displayed on the display plate, and the pointer is the measurement range on the high speed area display numeral side. Driven by.

(B-2) At this time, the low-speed area display numeral disappears from the display plate and becomes invisible due to the second switching means. That is, only one of the low speed area display numeral and the high speed area display numeral is displayed, and the speed is not mistaken.

(B-3) When the speed decreases immediately after moving to the high-speed area display numeral side as described above, the high-speed area display is performed until the second value of the overlapping numeral area in the high-speed area display numeral is reached. It will be displayed on the number side. That is, since the second value is smaller than the first value, even if the speed becomes smaller than the speed when moving to the high-speed area display numeral side,
It will be displayed in numbers for high-speed area display.

(B-4) When the speed reaches the second value of the overlapping numeral area in the numeral for displaying the high-speed area, the numeral for displaying the low-speed area is displayed on the display plate, and the pointer is on the side of the numeral for displaying the low-speed area. Driven by the measuring range.

(B-5) When the speed increases immediately after moving from the high speed area display numeral side to the low speed area display numeral side, the first value of the overlapping numeral area in the low speed area display numeral is reached. It will be displayed on the low speed area display side. That is, since the first value is larger than the second value, even if the speed becomes higher than the speed at the time of shifting to the low speed area display numeral side, the low speed area display numeral is displayed.

(B-6) Therefore, immediately after switching to the high-speed area display numeral, it is switched to the low-speed area display numeral again,
Immediately after switching to the low speed area display numeral, the speed does not switch to the high speed area display numeral again, and the speed can be easily confirmed in a stable state.

(C-1) Further, since the numbers for low speed region display and the numbers for high speed region display are arranged side by side in two columns, even if the area of the display plate is the same, the numbers for low speed region display numbers and high speed region display numbers are The intervals can be wide.

(C-2) Therefore, the visibility can be improved and the reading error can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a front view of a vehicle speedometer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing the drive mechanism of the speedometer, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the rotation characteristics of the pointer with respect to speed, and FIG. 6 (a-f) is a display during low-speed / high-speed switching. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a display form of a plate, and FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional vehicle speedometer. 10 …… Display plate 14 …… Pointer 16 …… Scale (display means) 18 …… Number for low speed area display 20 …… Number for high speed area 40 …… Speed detection sensor 24,26,28 …… LED (second 48 ... Constant switching circuit (first switching means) 52 ... Comparison circuit (comparison means) 54 ... Setting device (setting means) 56 ... Lighting switching circuit (second switching means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The display of the display plate pointed by the pointer is shared by the low speed display area and the high speed display area, and the low speed area display numeral and the high speed area display numeral are arranged side by side according to each display area. , The maximum number of low-speed area display numbers and the minimum number of high-speed area display numbers are provided with an overlapping numerical area, and when the speed reaches the first value in the overlapping numerical area of the low-speed area displaying numbers. Outputs a switching signal to switch from the low-speed area display numeral side to the high-speed area display numeral side. A switching signal for switching to the low-speed area display numeral side, the comparing means having the first value set to be larger than the second value, and the pointer according to the switching signal from the comparing means. Drive For switching the measurement range of the movement for the low speed area display numeral side or the high speed area display numeral side, and the low speed area display numeral and the high speed area display numeral according to the switching signal of the comparison means. A vehicle speedometer comprising a second switching means for displaying one of the two sides and causing the other side to disappear.