JPH1059016A - Meter unit for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form an indication of meter unit which is colorful and in high grade in its design and also hardly subjected to erroneous recognition. SOLUTION: This meter unit for an automobile is provided with a bar graph indication part 1a consisting of an arrangement of many segments 4 for indicating the variable quantity of a fuel remaining quantify, etc., a pair of letter indicating parts 1b, 1c respectively provided near the both end sides thereof and indicating the maximum and minimum grade of variable quantify indicated by bar graphs in the form of the letter and an indication control means 2 for performing the ignition control of those luminous diodes on the basis of the outputs from a luminous diode arranged on each segment 4 and each letter indicating parts 1b, 1c and sensor 3. Its variable quantity is subjected to bar- graph indication by the first luminous color and also the remaining segment 4 are illuminated by the second luminous color, and where the bar-graph indication becomes the maximum or minimum and the bar-graph indicating part 1a is indicated by single color, proper one side out of a pair of letter indicating part 1b, 1c is made non-ignitable so as to prevent any erroneous recognition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle meter device for displaying variables relating to the state of a vehicle, such as the amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank and the temperature of engine cooling water. The present invention relates to an automotive meter device that is displayed as a graph.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to prevent a danger during traveling and to ensure safety, various types of vehicles are provided with a vehicle to inform the driver of its own state and the state of individual devices. Is provided. And among them, a speedometer that displays the running speed of the car,
An ever-changing quantity, such as a tachometer that displays the engine speed, a fuel gauge (fuel gauge) that displays the remaining fuel in the fuel tank, or a temperature gauge (water temperature gauge) that displays the temperature of the engine coolant. These devices for displaying (variates) are of particular importance for the safe running of a motor vehicle.

[0003] In these automobile meter devices, as a display format, a scale of the variables is attached around a pointer that rotates according to the magnitude of the variables such as the vehicle speed or the remaining fuel amount. An analog type in which a dial is arranged and their variables are displayed according to the positions of the hands on the scale is generally used. However, in fuel gauges and temperture gauges, since the specific value of the quantity itself does not matter, the dial is not a numerical value but indicates the degree of it. For example, on the dial of the fuel gauge, "F" indicating that the fuel tank is full and "E" indicating that the fuel is empty are displayed.
Are marked on both sides of the scale, so that the remaining fuel quantity is indicated not by a specific quantity value but by the level of the fuel tank.

However, particularly in recent years, with the development of electronics and the sophistication and diversification of automobiles, the display format is not limited to such an analog type, and the vehicle speed is directly represented as a numerical value by a 7-segment display or the like. A digital type such as a numerical display to be displayed or a graph display to display the engine speed, the remaining fuel amount, and the like in a zone or a bar graph by a number of parallel segments is also employed.

Specifically, in the case of a fuel gauge of a bar graph display type, the display portion is formed by arranging a large number of (usually three or more) segments vertically one above the other, and has a side portion of the segment. The letter "F" is attached to the upper end, and the letter "E" is attached to the lower end. The segments are selectively illuminated by the number corresponding to the remaining amount of fuel with the lower side as the base point, so that the remaining amount of fuel is displayed as a bar graph. Note that such a display unit can be formed by a liquid crystal display or a fluorescent display tube, but is also formed as an LED display using a light emitting diode (LED) in that clear color display is possible. . The light emission display is controlled by A / D converting an output voltage from a fuel sender gauge for detecting the remaining fuel amount by an A / D converter, and processing the signal by a microcomputer to obtain the obtained fuel remaining amount. This is done by lighting the corresponding segment according to the quantity data.

[0006]

As described above, the display format of variables relating to the state of a vehicle is increasingly digital, mainly from the viewpoint of design. And, in particular, the display in the bar graph can not represent the variable as an accurate quantity value, but can represent the whole quantity in bulk, so the remaining fuel quantity where the degree of capacity is an issue is displayed It is suitable as a display format. In addition, the bar graph display allows the approximate degree of the variable to be grasped simply by visual recognition.Besides the display of the fuel remaining amount, the accurate quantity of the variable is not so important. It is also suitable as an indication of the temperature or the like.

By the way, the display of the variables in the bar graph is as follows.
LEs arranged in each of the many parallel segments
Generally, this is performed by controlling ON / OFF lighting of D, that is, by lighting only the segment corresponding to the variable amount out of a large number of segments and turning off the others. Therefore, when the variable becomes small (small), the displayed bar graph also becomes small (shorter), and a sufficient color feeling of the bar graph display section cannot be obtained. Also,
The degree of the magnitude of the variable displayed in the bar graph cannot be recognized unless the entire quantity is known, and therefore cannot be grasped merely by peripheral vision.

In view of such a bar graph display format, each segment of the bar graph display section is changed in color to emit light from the viewpoint of achieving multi-color display and improving designability. The bar graph display of the variable with the luminescent color (first luminescent color) and the emission of the remaining segments in another luminescent color (second luminescent color) having a different color tone are being studied. With such an expression form, not only the recognizability of the variables is improved, but also the display unit always emits a multi-colored light with these luminescent colors, so that a display with a high design quality full of color sense. Can be formed.

However, as described above, the corresponding segment among the segments of the bar graph display section is illuminated with the first luminescent color to display the variables in a bar graph, and the remaining segments are illuminated with the second luminescent color. When the variable is maximum or minimum, the bar graph also becomes maximum or minimum (zero), and all the segments of the bar graph display section emit light in one of the emission colors. Therefore, if the difference between the emission colors is not correctly understood in advance, it cannot be correctly determined whether the emission display of the bar graph display section indicates the maximum or the minimum of the variable. That is, there is a possibility that misunderstanding may occur due to confusion. And
Even though such misconceptions are not really a problem,
The possibility of misidentification is not preferable as a display of the meter device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a meter device for an automobile which has a high designability and can form a display without causing misidentification.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter apparatus for a vehicle, wherein a bar graph display section comprising an array of a large number of segments for displaying variables relating to the state of the automobile in a bar graph, and both ends of the array of the segments. And a pair of character display units respectively provided in the vicinity of the side and displaying the maximum and minimum degrees of the variables displayed in a bar graph in characters, and the light emitting units respectively arranged in the segments and the character display units. Diode, lighting control of each light emitting diode based on the output from the sensor that detects the variable, the corresponding segment of the segment of the bar graph display unit to emit light in the first emission color, The variable is displayed as a bar graph, and the remaining segments are caused to emit light in a second light emission color different in color tone from the first light emission color. When the variable is larger than the predetermined maximum reference value, the character display unit on the minimum side of the pair of character display units is turned off, and when the variable is smaller than the predetermined minimum reference value, a pair of character display is performed. Display control means for turning off the character display section on the largest side of the sections.

[0012] Therefore, in this automobile meter device, the bar graph display section is always displayed with the color changed and changed according to the first luminescent color and the second luminescent color.
Since the pair of character display portions is also illuminated and displayed in a desired color by the light emitting diode, it is possible to form a meter display which is full of color and is colorful and has high design. When the variable is maximum or minimum and all the segments of the bar graph display section emit light in one of the first emission color and the second emission color, one of the pair of character display sections Is turned off, and only the appropriate characters are displayed.
Whether the bar graph display section indicates the maximum value or the minimum value of the variable can be easily determined, and erroneous recognition can be prevented. Furthermore, since the character display unit becomes an independent display by turning off the other character display unit, the character display unit can function as an indicator that warns that the variable has exceeded a predetermined reference value.

This meter device for a vehicle is a meter device (fuel gauge) for displaying a remaining fuel amount in a fuel tank of a vehicle, or a meter device (temperature gauge, Thermo gauge).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle meter device (fuel gauge) according to the first aspect, wherein the variable relating to the state of the vehicle is a remaining amount of fuel in a vehicle tank. In addition, the character display on the pair of character display sections is a character display indicating that the fuel is full in the tank and a character display indicating that the fuel in the tank is almost empty. Is what you do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile meter device (temperture gauge), wherein the variable relating to the state of the automobile is:
It is the temperature of the cooling water of the engine of the automobile, and each character display in the pair of character display portions is a character display indicating that the temperature of the cooling water is high and a character display indicating that the temperature of the cooling water is low, respectively. It is characterized by having.

In these automobile meter devices, the first luminous color for displaying a bar graph and the second luminous color having a different color tone from the first luminous color may be of the same type of hue that differs only in shading. it can.

That is, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle meter device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second luminescent color is the first luminescent color. It is characterized by having a light color tone and a hue of the same system as the first emission color, but different in color tone.

According to this, since the first luminescent color and the second luminescent color are of the same type of hue, there is little flicker when the color changes, and the second luminescent color is too small. Since it is inconspicuous, it is possible to enhance the bar graph display of the first emission color and form a bar graph display with good visibility.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile meter device according to the fourth aspect.
The duty ratio of the second emission color is set to the first as a pulse current supplied to the light emitting diodes arranged in each segment.
Characterized in that it is obtained by using a pulse current smaller than a pulse current for emitting light of the emission color.

According to this, it is only necessary to dispose one light emitting diode of a single type in each segment.
A bar graph display can be easily formed, and
Wiring is also simple.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 6 relate to an automobile meter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the vehicle meter device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a segment forming a bar graph display portion of the vehicle meter device, and FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the display unit, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing display modes when the fuel is full and when the fuel is almost empty, respectively. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for controlling the character display section of the meter device for a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment is a meter device for displaying the amount of fuel such as gasoline stored in a fuel tank of the vehicle, that is, the remaining fuel amount. The fuel gauge is embodied as a fuel gauge. The display unit 1 displays the remaining fuel amount in the form of a bar graph and the output from the fuel sender unit 3 as a sensor for detecting the remaining fuel amount in the fuel tank. And display control means 2 for controlling the display section 1. The sensor (fuel sender unit) 3
An arbitrary sender unit such as a variable resistance type, an electromagnetic induction type, or a capacitance type can be used.Specifically, for example, a float that moves in accordance with the liquid level of fuel in a tank can be used. , A float arm type sender that interlocks with a contact plate that slides on a printed resistance plate via a float arm so that the resistance value changes according to the remaining amount of fuel (fuel level in the tank). The unit is used.
By supplying a constant voltage (5 V) to the sender unit, the remaining fuel amount is output as a voltage.

Here, the display unit 1 includes a light emitting diode (L)
It is formed as an LED display using ED) and is mounted together with other metering devices or display devices, or alone, at appropriate places on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The display unit 1 displays a large number of segments 4
And a bar graph display section 1a formed in parallel with each other. By controlling the lighting of the LEDs arranged in each segment 4, the remaining fuel amount can be displayed in a bar graph. Note that this bar graph display section 1a
Here, a large number of segments 4 each having a slightly elongated rectangular light-emitting surface are formed so that the light-emitting surfaces are arranged side by side so that the light-emitting surfaces are stacked. However, the form of the bar graph display section composed of a large number of parallel (in general, 3 to 5 or more) segments may be any form as long as the light emission display of the variable can be recognized as the length or area from the end. The shape may be not only a rod shape or a band shape but also a linear shape or an arc shape.

The specific structure of the segment 4 itself is the same as that of a normal segment forming a bar graph display. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the LED 5 that emits radiation of a desired color is attached by bonding to a printed wiring board 6 which is also a supporting substrate.
The periphery of the LED 5 has a white inner surface, and the opening at the upper end is surrounded by a rectangular reflector 7 as shown in FIG. 2, and the opening appropriately diffuses the radiated light from the LED 5. Then, it is covered with a light diffusion film 8 for forming a uniform light emitting surface. The LED 5 is in the form of a chip, and its front surface electrode is electrically connected to the lead frame of the printed wiring board 6 via the gold wire 9.
In addition, a protective coating such as a transparent epoxy resin is applied to the surface including the bonding portion by the gold wire 9. The bar graph display section 1a displays a predetermined number of such structural unit segments 4 in parallel,
The outer leads 10 are respectively connected to 5 to form a single unit.

The display unit 1 has a bar graph display unit 1a.
A pair of character display sections 1b and 1c for emitting and displaying the magnitude or degree of the quantity indicated by the characters in characters are provided near the both side ends of the bar graph display section 1a. The "character" is equivalent to the character attached to the scale together with the scale, and means the magnitude or degree of the quantity shown in the bar graph, and may be anything as long as it represents it. , Words, or numbers including units, or even pictographs. In particular,
In the present embodiment relating to a meter device for displaying the remaining fuel amount in a bar graph, as shown in FIG. 1, a character "F" indicating that the remaining fuel amount is the maximum and the fuel is full in the tank. And a character display unit 1c for displaying a character "E" indicating that the fuel remaining amount is the minimum and the fuel is not in the tank (the tank is empty). They are arranged near the upper and lower ends of the display unit 1a, respectively. That is, these character display sections 1b, 1c
Indicates the maximum and minimum states of the bar graph displayed on the bar graph display section 1a, that is, the extreme state.

More specifically, the character display sections 1b and 1c are formed as illumination type indicators having LEDs. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the character display portions 1b and 1c have LEDs 15 in the form of lamps attached thereto at the bottom of a small box-like reflector 16 having a white inner surface, and the openings thereof are light. It is formed as an indicator covered with a masking 17 made of a film or a sheet through which only predetermined display characters pass light through a diffusion film 18 as appropriate. Therefore, lead 19
When the LED lamp 15 is turned on by supplying current, the emitted light is radiated to the outside only through the display character portion of the masking 17, so that the display character (in this embodiment, "F" and "E ”) Is raised and displayed. Therefore, the masking 17 may be such that the display character portion does not transmit light.

The character display sections 1b and 1c are
It may be formed as a unit integrated with the bar graph display section 1a. In that case, the display units 1a, 1b,
A printed circuit board as shown in FIG. 2 common to 1c is used, and the LED 15 is bonded to and attached to the LED 15 in the form of a chip. However, in this case, the LED 15 provided in each of the character display portions 1b and 1c is used.
Are controlled independently of each other.
External leads are provided for the EDs 15, respectively.

In addition to the bar graph display section 1a and the pair of character display sections 1b and 1c, the display section 1 can further include a display such as a scale. , Can be applied adjacent to the bar graph display section 1a by printing or the like. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the display of the fuel remaining amount in a bar graph is based on an output from a sensor (fuel sender gauge) 3 and stored in an A / D conversion circuit 20 and a counter 22. The control can be performed by the control unit 2 including the control unit 21 including the circuit 23 and the bar graph display unit light emission drive circuit 24. In this type of bar graph display, it is common to average the A / D-converted output values, delay the output values, and then control the light emission drive of the bar graph display unit using a display IC including a comparator. However, here, the output A / D-converted by the control unit 21 is processed, converted into code data, and the light emission drive control of the bar graph display unit 1a is performed by the code data. ing.

More specifically, the voltage according to the remaining amount of fuel (the liquid level of the fuel in the tank) output as an analog signal from the sensor 3 such as a float type sender unit is A / D
The data is input to the conversion circuit 20 and digitized as an A / D conversion value. The digitized output is input to the counter 22 of the control unit 21 composed of a microcomputer, and is counted during the period from the gate opening to the gate closing by the timing circuit. Then, the count data as the remaining fuel amount is compared with the storage data stored in the storage circuit 23, and only when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the data is converted into a code. Circuit 2
4 and the code is held until the timing of the next timing circuit. Further, the counter 22 is cleared by the timing circuit, and the counting is repeated. Note that this is the basic processing by the control unit 21. More specifically, the bar graph display frequently changes due to a change in the liquid level of the fuel in the tank due to shaking during traveling, and flickering occurs. In order to prevent this, the averaging of the A / D converted value within a predetermined time is performed, and the code data is updated only when the update condition is satisfied a predetermined number of times.

In this way, the control means 2 displays a bar graph according to the remaining fuel amount (the liquid level of the fuel in the tank). That is, in the display unit 1 of FIG. 1, a large number of segments 4 arranged vertically emit light sequentially from the lower end in accordance with the remaining fuel amount. It is quantitatively expressed as the height or length of a bar graph formed in a bar shape by the arrangement of the segments 4 that are formed. Note that the upper and lower limits of the bar graph are indicated by characters "F" and "E", respectively, in a character display section 1b,
1c is lit in a normal state, and shows how the bar graph indicates the remaining fuel amount.

However, even if the remaining fuel amount is indicated by the height of the bar graph, whether the remaining fuel amount indicated by the bar graph is large or small is determined as a whole. That is, if the amount of the entire fuel tank is not known, it cannot be recognized. Such an overall amount can be recognized to some extent by the character display units 1b and 1c provided near both ends of the bar graph display unit 1a. But not enough. If a scale indicating the remaining fuel amount in the range from the maximum to the minimum is attached adjacent to the bar graph display, the scale at the height position of the bar graph is read, so that the fuel remaining amount indicated by the scale is read. It can be grasped quantitatively. However, this is the same as the analog meter device in which the hands are arranged on the scale plate, and impairs the advantage of the bar graph display in which the degree of quantity can be easily recognized even by peripheral vision.

Therefore, in the meter device of the present embodiment,
Of the many segments 4 forming the bar graph display section 1a, the segments 4 corresponding to the remaining fuel amount detected by the sensor 3 emit light in a predetermined emission color (first emission color), as described above. The remaining fuel amount is displayed as a bar graph, and at the same time, the remaining segments 4 are caused to emit light of a second emission color different from the emission color (first emission color) of the bar graph. Therefore, the bar graph display section 1a also displays the amount of fuel consumed together with the remaining amount of fuel, or the capacity of the empty portion of the fuel tank, and displays the bar graph in order to always display the entire amount of the fuel tank. It is easy to determine the amount of fuel remaining
Can be recognized. For example, in FIG. 1, out of a large number of segments of the bar graph display section 1 a, the lower substantially half segment 4 emits light of the first emission color, and the remaining upper substantially half segment 4 emits the second light emitting color. It emits light of the emission color. From this display, it can be easily recognized without a scale that the fuel is about half in the fuel tank (its capacity is known).

The second emission color may be basically any emission color as long as it can be distinguished from the first emission color for displaying the remaining fuel amount in a bar graph. However, the second emission color does not directly indicate the fuel remaining amount, and the bar graph display should be the remaining fuel amount rather than the fuel consumption amount. It is preferred that For this reason, the most preferable second emission color is a lighter version of the first emission color. According to such a light-colored second light-emitting color, the bar graph of the relatively dark-colored first light-emitting color can be more prominently displayed, whereby the remaining fuel amount can be displayed more clearly. it can. Specifically, for example, when the remaining fuel amount is displayed in blue, the first emission color displayed as a bar graph may be a slightly dark blue color, and the second emission color corresponding thereto may be a light blue color. it can.

The first light emission color is lightened into a second light emission color.
Can be easily obtained by reducing the current supplied to the LED 5 of the corresponding segment 4. More specifically, the light emission driving of the bar graph display section 1a is performed by using a pulse current. Since it is generally performed by lighting, it can be obtained by reducing the duty ratio of the supplied current. Therefore, in this case, the bar graph display unit light emission drive circuit 24 of the control unit 2 specifies the number of the segments 4 forming the bar graph display unit 1a based on the code data on the remaining fuel amount from the control unit 21. Segment 4 of
Is controlled to supply a current with a normal duty ratio, and to the other remaining segments 4, a current with a smaller duty ratio is supplied.

The light-emitting second light-emitting color can be obtained by, for example, arranging two or more LEDs 5 in each segment and using their LEs other than means for reducing the duty ratio.
It can also be obtained by means for lighting only one of D5. In addition, such a second emission color can be obtained by using a plurality of types of LEDs 5 in combination and mixing them. However, in these cases, more LEDs 5 are required.

However, the remaining fuel amount is displayed as a bar graph in the first emission color, and the bar graph display unit 1 is used.
When the remaining segments 4 of the light emitting device a emit light of the second emission color, the remaining fuel amount becomes minimum, and when the fuel tank becomes almost empty, all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a display the second segments. Light is emitted in the emission color, and a bar graph display in the emission color is formed. Therefore, in particular, when the second emission color is a light color tone of the first emission color, it is difficult to distinguish from the display when the remaining fuel amount is the maximum, and there is a possibility of being confused therewith. . Conversely, when the remaining fuel amount is maximum and the fuel tank is full, the bar graph display section 1a emits light in the first luminescent color as a whole, so that the meaning of the luminescent color is correctly understood. Otherwise, confusion with when the remaining fuel is at a minimum may similarly occur.

Therefore, in the meter device of the present embodiment, the display of the maximum fuel amount and the minimum fuel amount is prevented from being confused.
Character display units 1b and 1c so that it is easy to determine whether the fuel is full or nearly empty.
Is controlled in combination with the bar graph display section 1a. This display mode is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the fuel tank is full of fuel and all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a have the maximum remaining fuel amount to emit light of the first emission color,
The LED 15 of the character display section 1b alone is turned on, and a character "F" indicating that the fuel is full is displayed. That is,
The LED 15 of the character display section 1c is turned off, and the character "E" is not displayed. Accordingly, the remaining fuel amount is the maximum, and it can be easily recognized that the fuel is filled in the tank. It should be noted that, if necessary, this display mode is performed until the one or two segments 4 on the upper end side of the bar graph display section 1a change to the second emission color, that is, the fuel remaining amount is set to the predetermined maximum side reference. It can be maintained as long as the amount is at least Vm.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the fuel in the fuel tank is almost empty and the luminous colors of all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a are changed to the second luminous colors, the character display section 1b The character display "F" is turned off, and only the character "E" of the character display portion 1c indicating that the fuel is empty is displayed. As a result, all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light in the second emission color, but since only the character "E" is displayed, the fuel is almost empty and the fuel is replenished. You can recognize that you need to. Here, the character display portion 1c of "E" is used as a warning lamp for warning that the fuel is almost empty by displaying the light independently without displaying the corresponding "F". Will also work. Therefore, the character display section 1b is turned off, and only the character display section 1c "E" is illuminated and displayed.
Even when the segment 4 that emits light of the first emission color remains, it is applied when the remaining amount of fuel becomes equal to or less than the predetermined amount that needs to be replenished, that is, the minimum reference amount Vl. can do. In addition, "E" of this character display section 1c
Can be switched to a blinking display at a stage where immediate fuel supply is required.

Control of light emission display of these character display sections 1b and 1c, that is, L
As shown in FIG. 1, the on / off control of the lighting of the ED 15 is performed by providing a character display unit light emission drive circuit 25 in the control unit 2 and displaying a bar graph based on the code data of the remaining fuel amount output from the control unit 21. Along with the bar graph display of part 1a,
Alternatively, it can be performed separately from such a signal. FIG. 6 shows an example of a flowchart for controlling such character display sections 1b and 1c.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S1
The output of the counter 22 is input in step S2. In step S2, whether the value is equal to or more than a predetermined value, that is, the remaining fuel amount includes the case where all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light of the first emission color It is determined whether it is equal to or greater than the predetermined maximum reference amount Vm. If so, in step S3, the LED 15 of the character display section 1c is turned off, and the display character "E" is turned off. When the value is less than the reference amount Vm,
In step S4, it is determined whether the remaining fuel amount is equal to or less than a predetermined minimum reference amount Vl including a case where all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light of the second emission color. In step S5, the LE of the character display unit 1b is
D15 is turned off, and the display character "F" is turned off. Thus, the character display unit 1 is displayed in the display mode shown in FIGS.
It is possible to control the light emission display of b and 1c.

The emission colors of the character display portions 1b and 1c can be arbitrarily determined, and may be the same as each other, or may be the same as the emission color of the bar graph display portion 1a. Or may be different. In addition, a white light emission color can be obtained by using a combination of LEDs that emit red, green, and blue colors. However, the luminescent color of the character display portion 1c, which also functions as an indicator for warning that the remaining fuel amount is low, is preferably red or a color close thereto. Further, the luminescent color of the character display section 1c can be changed to, for example, red when the luminescent color is displayed alone.

As described above, the vehicle meter device of the present embodiment is embodied as a meter device (fuel gauge) for displaying the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle. A bar graph display unit 1a for displaying the remaining fuel amount in a bar graph, and a bar graph display unit 1a provided near the both ends of the array of the segments 4 to indicate that the remaining fuel amount is maximum and the fuel is full. Character display unit 1 that indicates that there is a character "F"
b, and a character display section 1c for displaying by a letter "E" that the remaining fuel amount is the minimum and the fuel is almost empty,
Based on the output from the LED 5 provided in each segment 4 and the LED 15 provided in each of the character display sections 1b and 1c and the sensor (fuel sender gauge) 3 for detecting the remaining fuel amount, these LEDs 5, 15 are provided. And a display control means 2 for controlling the lighting of the fuel cell and displaying the remaining fuel amount by light emission. Here, the display control means 2 corresponds to the corresponding segment 4 of the segment 4 of the bar graph display section 1a. Is emitted in a first emission color to display the remaining fuel amount in a bar graph, and the remaining segments 4 are emitted in a second emission color different in color tone from the first emission color. When the amount is larger than the predetermined maximum reference amount, the character display unit 1 of “E” on the minimum side of the pair of character display units 1b and 1c.
When the remaining amount of fuel is smaller than a predetermined minimum reference amount, the character display portion 1b of "F" on the maximum side of the pair of character display portions 1b and 1c is turned off. That is, the display control means 2 performs predetermined display control of the bar graph display section 1a, and when all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light of the first emission color (the fuel remaining amount is the maximum. , When the bar graph is displayed at its maximum), the character display portion 1c of the minimum “E” of the pair of character display portions 1b and 1c is turned off (only “F” of the maximum character display portion 1b). At the same time as when all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light in the second emission color (when the remaining fuel amount is the minimum and the bar graph indicating the remaining fuel amount is displayed as zero). ), The character display section 1b of “F” on the largest side of the pair of character display sections 1b and 1c.
Is turned off (only the "E" of the character display unit 1c on the minimum side is displayed by light emission).

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device, the lighting of the LEDs 5 and 15 causes the bar graph display section 1a to constantly change its color according to the first luminescent color and the second luminescent color to be displayed. Since the character display portions 1b and 1c of the characters "F" and "E" representing the maximum and minimum of the remaining fuel amount displayed on the bar graph are also illuminated,
It is possible to form a colorful, highly-designed meter display full of color. In addition, the remaining fuel amount becomes the maximum or the minimum, and all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a are the first.
When the luminescent color is displayed in the luminescent color or the second luminescent color, the appropriate side of the pair of character display units 1b and 1c is turned off and only the appropriate character display unit is displayed. It is possible to easily determine and recognize whether the remaining fuel amount is the maximum or the minimum. Furthermore, in particular, the display “E” of the character display unit 1c representing the minimum remaining fuel amount.
Is an independent display when the display “F” of the character display section 1b is turned off, and can function as a display for warning that the fuel is almost empty. Therefore, according to this vehicle meter device, by appropriately setting the minimum reference amount of the remaining fuel amount for turning off the display “F” of the character display portion 1b, the fuel warning device can be provided without separately providing a fuel warning device. The indication of the need for replenishment can be displayed.

Further, in this automobile meter device,
The first luminescent color forming the bar graph display and the second luminescent color having a different tone from the first luminescent color can be, in particular, hues of the same system and different shades. The second emission color may be a lighter version of the first emission color than the relatively dark first emission color. According to this, since the hues are of the same system, flicker (flicker) at the time of mutual color change is small, and the light-emitting second luminescent color is not conspicuous, and the bar graph of the first luminescent color. Can be better complemented, so that a bar graph display with good visibility can be formed.

Further, the second light emission color obtained by reducing the first light emission color is displayed in each segment 4 of the bar graph display section 1a.
Can be obtained by using a pulse current having a duty ratio smaller than the current for emitting light of the first emission color as the current to be supplied to the LED 5 disposed in the LED. That is, a pulse current having a predetermined duty ratio is supplied to the LED 5 of the segment 4 forming the bar graph display among the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a, and the LED 5 of the remaining segment 4 is supplied to the LED 5 of the remaining segment 4. That is, a pulse current having a smaller duty ratio is supplied. By doing so, it is only necessary to arrange one LED 5 of a single type in each segment 4, so that the bar graph display section 1a can be formed more easily, and the wiring can be more simplified. It is.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an automobile meter device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those of the automotive meter device according to the first embodiment in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts as the constituent parts.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle meter device of the second embodiment is embodied as a meter device for displaying the temperature of the cooling water of the engine of the vehicle, that is, a temper gauge. . However, the display of the water temperature is not a temperature value but a bar graph display indicating the degree or state of the temperature. In addition, the configuration is such that the fuel meter displays the fuel meter in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 in a bar graph, the variable displayed is the temperature of the cooling water, and the sensor is Except that it is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling water, it is substantially the same.

That is, the automotive meter device (temperature gauge, thermo gauge) of the present embodiment has a display section 31 for displaying the temperature of the cooling water in a bar graph, and a sensor as a sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling water. Display control means 32 for controlling the light emission display of the display section 31 based on the output from the thermistor type sender unit 33. Note that a bimetallic sender unit or the like can be used as such a sensor 33, but a thermistor-type sender unit using a thermistor whose electric resistance value changes according to temperature as a sensing element is generally used.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the display section 31 has a bar graph display section 1a in which a large number of segments 4 are formed in parallel, and a pair of characters provided on both ends of the bar graph display section 1a. It consists of display units 1b and 1c,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed on the display units 1a, 1b, and 1c, respectively, so that light is displayed in a desired emission color.
However, the characters indicating the maximum side and the minimum side of the bar graph display in the character display portions 1b and 1c, respectively, are "H" indicating that the engine temperature is high and the engine temperature is high, and "H" indicating that the engine temperature is low and the engine temperature is low. C ".

The display control means 32 is the same as the display control means 2 of the first embodiment, and specifically, a sensor (thermistor type sender unit) 3 which is an analog signal.
A / D converting the output (current or voltage) from A / D
It includes a D conversion circuit 20, a control section 21 including a counter 22 and a storage circuit 23, a bar graph display section light emission drive circuit 24, and a character display section light emission drive circuit 25.
The display control means 32 is the same as the display control means 2 of the first embodiment, but may be a circuit form by analog processing. Then, the mode of control by the display control means 32, that is, the bar graph display unit 1
a is changed into a first light emission color and a second light emission color to emit light, that is, the segment 4 corresponding to the temperature of the cooling water is displayed in the first light emission color, and the remaining segments 4 are displayed. The point at which light is emitted in the second emission color, and the pair of character display portions 1b and 1c which are normally illuminated and displayed, have the bar graph display at the maximum or minimum, and all the segments 4 of the bar graph display portion 1a are the first. When the temperature of the cooling water exceeds a predetermined maximum side or minimum side reference value, including the case of emitting light in one of the emission color and the second emission color, only one of them is turned off. This is the same as the embodiment.

As described above, the meter device for a vehicle according to the second embodiment is a meter device (temperature gauge) for displaying the temperature of the cooling water of the engine of the vehicle in terms of the height.
The bar graph display section 1a is composed of an array of a number of segments 4 and displays the temperature of the cooling water in a bar graph. A character display portion 1b for displaying that the engine is hot with a character "H", a character display portion 1c for displaying a low temperature and a cold engine with a character "C", each segment 4 and each character display portion. 1b,
LED (light-emitting diode) respectively arranged in 1c
And display control means 32 for controlling the lighting of these LEDs based on the output from a sensor (thermistor type sender unit) 33 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water, and displaying the temperature of the cooling water by light emission. The corresponding segment 4 among the segments 4 of the graph display section 1a emits light in the first emission color, the temperature of the cooling water is displayed in a bar graph, and the remaining segments 4 have the same color tone as the first emission color. When the temperature of the cooling water is higher than a predetermined maximum reference temperature Tm, the character display of "E" on the minimum side of the pair of character display portions 1b and 1c is displayed. A display for turning off the portion 1c and, when the temperature of the cooling water is lower than the predetermined minimum side reference temperature Tl, turning off the character display portion 1b of "H" on the maximum side of the pair of character display portions 1b and 1c. Control means 32; It is provided with.

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device (temperture gauge), as in the case of the first embodiment, a colorful and highly designable meter display can be formed, and the cooling water can be formed. When the bar graph indicating the height of the temperature is maximum or minimum, that is, when all the segments 4 of the bar graph display section 1a emit light in the first emission color or the second emission color, the pair of character display sections 1b , 1c
Since the character display portion 1c of "E" on the minimum side and the character display portion 1b of "H" on the maximum side are turned off, the erroneous determination of the bar graph display is prevented, and the temperature of the cooling water is prevented. The height of the height can always be accurately grasped.

In the case of a meter device for displaying the temperature of the cooling water, what is actually important is not the value of the temperature but the temperature in a range suitable for the engine or a temperature that is too high. Or too low a temperature. Therefore, the maximum reference temperature can be set to the upper limit temperature of an appropriate temperature range as the temperature of the cooling water, and the minimum reference temperature can be set to the lower limit temperature. Thereby, when the temperature of the cooling water is out of the appropriate temperature range, only the character display portion 1b or 1c on that side is lit and displayed, so that the character display portions 1b and 1c are cooled. It can function as an indicator to warn that the temperature of the water is too high or too low.

By the way, the vehicle meter devices of the first and second embodiments are embodied as displaying the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle and the temperature of the cooling water, respectively. The variables related to the state of the car are
Alternatively, the exact value itself can be a less important battery voltage, engine oil pressure, or the like. Then, by using an appropriate sensor as a sensor for detecting these variables, it can be embodied as a voltmeter or an oil pressure gauge, as in the first and second embodiments.

[0057]

As described above, the vehicle meter device according to the first aspect of the present invention has a bar graph display section comprising an array of a large number of segments for displaying variables relating to the state of an automobile in a bar graph, and an arrangement of the segments. A pair of character display units, which are provided near both ends, respectively, and display the maximum and minimum degrees of the variables displayed in a bar graph with characters, respectively, are arranged in each of those segments and each character display unit. The light emitting diodes and the lighting control of the respective light emitting diodes are performed based on the output from the sensor that detects the variable, and the corresponding segment among the segments of the bar graph display section is caused to emit light in the first light emitting color. The variable is displayed as a bar graph, and the remaining segments are caused to emit light in a second light emission color different in color tone from the first light emission color. When the variable is larger than the predetermined maximum reference value, the character display unit on the minimum side of the pair of character display units is turned off, and when the variable is smaller than the predetermined minimum reference value, a pair of character display is performed. Display control means for turning off the character display section on the largest side of the sections.

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device, the bar graph display section is always displayed in a light-emitting manner while changing its color according to the first luminescent color and the second luminescent color.
Since the pair of character display portions is also illuminated and displayed in a desired color by the light emitting diode, it is possible to form a meter display which is full of color and is colorful and has high design. When the variable is maximum or minimum and all the segments of the bar graph display section emit light in one of the first emission color and the second emission color, one of the pair of character display sections Is turned off, and only the appropriate characters are displayed.
Whether the bar graph display section indicates the maximum value or the minimum value of the variable can be easily determined, and erroneous recognition can be prevented. Furthermore, since the character display unit becomes an independent display by turning off the other character display unit, the character display unit can function as an indicator that warns that the variable has exceeded a predetermined reference value.

That is, according to the vehicle meter device,
It is possible to form a display that is colorful, has high designability, and does not cause erroneous recognition. Further, it is possible to form a display that also serves as an indicator that warns that the variable has exceeded a predetermined reference value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter device for an automobile.
2. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein the variable relating to the state of the vehicle is the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle tank, and the character display on the pair of character display units indicates that the fuel is filled in the tank, respectively. And a character display indicating that the fuel in the tank is almost empty (fuel gauge).

Therefore, according to this automobile meter device, it is possible to form a display of the fuel remaining amount which has a high designability and does not cause a misperception. Further, in particular, the fuel in the tank is almost empty. The character display unit that displays the state by text can be used as an indicator to warn of refueling by being lit and displayed alone when the remaining fuel amount is less than a predetermined minimum reference amount. it can.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an automobile meter device comprising:
The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein the variable relating to the state of the vehicle is a temperature of a cooling water of an engine of the vehicle, and each of the character displays on the pair of character display units has a temperature of the cooling water. It is characterized by a character display indicating that the temperature is high and a character display indicating that the temperature of the cooling water is low (temperature gauge).

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device, it is possible to form a display of the temperature of the cooling water which has a high design quality and does not cause misidentification. By appropriately setting the maximum or minimum reference temperature that is the reference value for turning off the unit, it is possible to function as an indicator that warns that the temperature of the cooling water is too high or too low.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile meter device comprising:
4. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein the second luminescent color is a light tone of the first luminescent color, and has the same system as the first luminescent color. 5. It is characterized in that it has a hue but a different color tone in shades.

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device, the first luminescent color and the second luminescent color have the same system hue, so that flicker occurs when the color changes.
Since the second light emission color is not so conspicuous, the bar graph display of the first light emission color can be enhanced and a bar graph display with good visibility can be formed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile meter device comprising:
5. The automobile meter device according to claim 4, wherein the second emission color is a pulse current supplied to the light-emitting diodes arranged in each segment, and a duty ratio is a pulse current that emits light in the first emission color. Is also obtained by using a reduced pulse current.

Therefore, according to this automotive meter device, each segment is provided with one type of light emitting diode.
Since it is only necessary to dispose them individually, the bar graph display section can be easily formed, and the wiring is also simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle meter device (fuel gauge) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a segment forming a bar graph display section of the automotive meter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a character display section of the automotive meter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode when the fuel is full by the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display mode when the fuel is almost empty in the vehicle meter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for controlling a character display unit of the automotive meter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an automotive meter device (temperature gauge) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,31 display unit 1a bar graph display unit 1b, 1c character display unit 2,32 control means 3,33 sensor 4 segment 5,15 light emitting diode

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Osamu Yamanaka 1 Ogatachi Nagahata, Kasuga-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masato Tamaki 1 Ochiai Nagahata, Kasuga-machi, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazushi Noda 1 Kasugacho, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bar graph display section comprising an array of a large number of segments for displaying variables relating to the state of an automobile in a bar graph, and provided in the vicinity of both ends of the array of the segments and displayed in the bar graph. A pair of character display units that respectively display the maximum and minimum degrees of the variables in characters, light emitting diodes respectively arranged in the segments and the character display units, and based on an output from a sensor that detects the variables. The lighting control of each light emitting diode is performed, the corresponding segment among the segments of the bar graph display unit is caused to emit light in a first emission color, the variable is displayed in a bar graph, and the remaining segments are displayed in the bar graph. While emitting light in a second emission color having a different color tone from the first emission color, when the variable is larger than a predetermined maximum-side reference value, And turning off the smallest character display portion of the character display portions, and, when the variable is smaller than a predetermined minimum reference value, turns off the largest character display portion of the pair of character display portions. An automotive meter device comprising: a display control unit. 2. The variable related to the state of the vehicle is the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle tank, and the character display on the pair of character display units indicates that the fuel is full in the tank, respectively. 2. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein a character display and a character display indicating that the fuel in the tank is almost empty. 3. The variable relating to the state of the vehicle is a temperature of cooling water of an engine of the vehicle, and each character display on the pair of character display units is a character indicating that the temperature of the cooling water is high. The vehicle meter device according to claim 1, wherein the display and the character display indicate that the temperature of the cooling water is low. 4. The second light-emitting color has a light color tone of the first light-emitting color, and has a hue of the same system as the first light-emitting color, but has a different color tone in light and shade. The automotive meter device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. A pulse current having a duty ratio smaller than a pulse current for emitting light in the first light emission color, the second light emission color being a pulse current supplied to a light emitting diode disposed in each segment. 5. The vehicle meter device according to claim 4, wherein the meter device is obtained by using: