JP2008174096A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vehicle capable of improving driver's energy-saving consciousness by displaying idling information related to an idling state. <P>SOLUTION: A control device 20 is provided with an idling cumulative time measuring section 21 to measure a cumulative time of idling operation, and a control device 20 is provided with an idling cumulative fuel quantity measuring section 22 to measure a cumulative fuel quantity consumed during idling operation. The measured idling cumulative time and the idling cumulative fuel quantity are displayed on a multi-display 13. The driver's energy-saving consciousness, i.e., the consciousness of minimizing an idling time of an engine which is the wasteful use of fuel is thereby enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that is mounted on a vehicle and displays various types of information.

As a conventional vehicle display device, for example, in a vehicle that performs engine idle stop control, the idle stop time is measured, and the measured idle stop time is displayed numerically on a display that digitally displays the travel distance and is switched. There is a configuration in which information displayed on a display is switched by operating a button. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-224269 A

  In recent years, people's awareness of environmental protection and energy saving has increased, and even in automobiles, which are vehicles, the fuel consumption rate during running (distance that can be run with 1 liter of fuel, hereinafter referred to as “fuel consumption”), etc. There is something that displays. In general, the engine rotates while the automobile is stopped and performs so-called idling operation. However, the fuel consumed during the idling operation of the engine does not contribute to the movement of the automobile and is wasted. . The above-described conventional display device for a vehicle is applied to an automobile having a so-called idle stop function in which the engine is automatically stopped and can be automatically started to stop the engine while the vehicle is stopped to save fuel.

  However, in the current situation in which the majority of vehicles do not have an idle stop function, it is important to first provide some means for the driver to recognize that idling is a waste of fuel. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device capable of displaying idling information related to an idling state and improving the driver's awareness of energy saving. That is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  The vehicle display device according to claim 1 of the present invention is measured by an idling information measuring unit that measures idling information that is information related to an idling state in which the engine is operating and the traveling speed is zero, and an idling information measuring unit. And display means for displaying the idling information on the display.

  According to the above configuration, the idling information can be displayed to the driver, so that the driver's awareness of energy saving can be improved.

  In the display device for a vehicle according to claim 2 of the present invention, vehicle information that is information related to the vehicle is displayed on the display in addition to idling information, and the display on the display is set to either idling information or vehicle information. A display switching means for switching is provided.

  With such a configuration, the display space of the vehicle display device can be effectively utilized by using the display device not only for idling information display but also for the vehicle information display. Further, by providing the display switching means, various information can be easily displayed as necessary.

  In the display device for a vehicle according to claim 3 of the present invention, the idling information measuring means starts measurement when the ignition switch is turned on, and the idling information measuring means clears the measurement result calculated when the ignition switch is turned off. It is characterized by doing.

  As a usage form of the automobile, the ignition switch is turned on at the time of departure, and the ON state continues until it arrives at the destination, and the ignition switch is turned off immediately before reaching the destination and immediately before getting off. When the destination is far away, the ignition switch is turned off during a break on the way. That is, the period during which the ignition switch is turned on corresponds to one behavior unit period of the driver. Therefore, by measuring and displaying the idling information in this behavior unit period, the driver can be surely recognized the degree of energy saving of each driving behavior unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle display device capable of improving the driver's energy saving awareness.

  The display device for a vehicle according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the idling information is at least one of an accumulated time in the idling state and an accumulated fuel amount consumed in the idling state. The accumulated time in the idling state and the accumulated fuel amount consumed in the idling state are both optimal indexes for raising attention to waste of fuel due to idling. In particular, since the unit price of fuel (price per liter) is known, the accumulated fuel amount is displayed as the amount of wasted fuel, that is, using parameters that are easy to understand. Can increase interest in.

  The vehicle display device according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that the display is a liquid crystal display and the idling information is digitally displayed. According to such a configuration, for example, the size of idling information can be displayed more directly than in analog display using a pointer instrument or the like.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 by taking as an example a case where it is applied to a combination meter 1 mounted on an automobile.

(First embodiment)
The combination meter 1 displays various types of information related to the automobile, and is disposed in front of the driver's seat so that the driver can view from the front. As shown in FIG. 1, the combination meter 1 includes a speedometer 11 for instructing the traveling speed of the automobile, a tachometer 12 for instructing the rotational speed of the engine, a multi-display 13 for displaying various information in numbers, and a multi-display 13. A switching button 14 for switching the upper display is provided. The changeover switch 14 is configured as, for example, a general push button switch, and the information displayed on the multi-display 13 is switched every time the push-in operation is performed once. In addition to the above, the combination meter 1 is equipped with various instruments, warning lights, and the like not shown.

  The multi-display 13 that is a display is composed of a liquid crystal display, for example, a segment type liquid crystal display. Information displayed on the multi-display 13 includes an odometer that indicates the cumulative travel distance of the vehicle, a trip meter that indicates the section travel distance, the cumulative time of idling that is idling information related to the idling state of the engine, and the idling information. The accumulated fuel amount consumed during idling is four. If the reset switch 15 is pressed while the trip meter is displayed on the multi-display 13, the travel distance displayed on the trip meter is reset to 0 km.

  Next, the overall configuration of the combination meter 1, mainly the electrical circuit configuration, will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 20 controls all the displays of the combination meter 1, that is, the display operations of the speedometer 11, the tachometer 12, and the multi-display 13, and includes a microcomputer or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 20 is always connected to a battery 40 as a power source, and an ignition switch 30 is connected so as to be able to detect ON and OFF. The control device 20 is connected to a changeover switch 14, a reset switch 15, a vehicle speed sensor 50, a rotation sensor 60, and an engine electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as engine ECU) 70 so that signals can be input. Here, the vehicle speed sensor 50 detects, for example, the number of rotations of the output shaft (propeller shaft) of a transmission included in the automobile. Therefore, the travel speed and travel distance of the automobile are calculated based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 50 and the known drive wheel diameter and differential gear reduction ratio. Further, a signal related to the amount of fuel supplied to the engine is output from the engine ECU 70, and the control device 20 calculates the amount of fuel consumed during the idling operation based on this signal. A multi display 13 is connected to the control device 20. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the stepping motor for driving the pointer of the speedometer 11 and the stepping motor for driving the pointer of the tachometer 12 are also connected to the control device. Based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 50, the control device 20 calculates the traveling speed of the automobile, and drives a stepping motor (not shown) so as to instruct it by the speedometer 11 unit. Based on the signal from the rotation sensor 60, the control device 20 calculates the rotation speed of the engine and drives a stepping motor (not shown) so as to instruct the tachometer 12 unit. The control device 20 calculates the cumulative travel distance and section travel distance of the vehicle based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 50 and the signal from the reset switch 15, and digitally calculates each travel distance based on the signal from the changeover switch 14. The liquid crystal display which comprises the multi display 13 is driven so that it may display. Based on the signals from the vehicle speed sensor 50, the rotation sensor 60, and the engine ECU 70, the controller 20 accumulates the engine idling operation time after the ignition switch 30 of the vehicle is turned on, and also during the engine idling operation. The accumulated fuel amount consumed is calculated, and the liquid crystal display constituting the multi-display 13 is driven so as to digitally display them based on the signal from the changeover switch 14.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 for the accumulated time measurement process of the idling operation and the accumulated fuel amount consumed process during the idling operation performed in the control device 20 of the combination meter 1 configured as described above. However, it will be explained. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific processing procedure of the accumulated time measuring process of the idling operation executed by the idling accumulated time measuring unit 21 which is an idling information measuring unit mainly provided in the control device 20. FIG. 4 shows an example of a specific processing procedure of the cumulative fuel amount measurement processing consumed during the idling operation, which is mainly executed by the idling cumulative fuel amount measurement unit 22 which is an idling information measuring means included in the control device 20. It is a flowchart. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the ignition switch 30 is represented as IG.

  First, specific processing of the idling accumulated time measurement process executed by the idling accumulated time measuring unit 21 of the control device 20 will be described in order.

  When the ignition switch 30 is turned on by the operation of the automobile driver, the idling accumulated time measurement process shown in FIG. 3 is started. When this process is started, the idling accumulated time measuring unit 21 first executes an initialization process in step S1.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated time calculation unit 21 determines whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF as the process of step S2. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the ignition switch is represented as IG. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, in the subsequent step S11, the idling accumulated time = 0 is set, and the idling accumulated time measuring process is terminated. When the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, that is, is in the ON state, the idling accumulated time = 0 is set as the processing of the subsequent step S3.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated time calculation unit 21 determines whether or not the engine is in an idling state as the process of step S4. Whether or not the engine is idling is determined based on detection signals from the speed sensor 50 and the rotation sensor 60. That is, the engine idling condition is when the running speed is 0 and the engine is rotating. When the engine is in the idling state, the idling accumulated time is updated to the immediately preceding value as the process of step S5, and the idling accumulated time is measured as the process of step S6 following step S5. On the other hand, when the engine is not in the idling state, the process returns to step S3, and the processes after step S3 are performed again.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated time calculation unit 21 determines whether or not the engine is in an idling state as a process of step S7. When the engine is in an idling state, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF as the processing of the subsequent step S8. If the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, the process returns to step S5. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, the idling accumulated time = 0 is set as the subsequent process of step S11, and the idling accumulated time measuring process is terminated. As a result of the determination in step S7, when the engine is not in the idling state, the idling accumulated time measurement is stopped as a process in subsequent step S9. Subsequently, as a process of step S10, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF. If the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, the process returns to step S7, and the processes after step S7 are performed again. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, the idling accumulated time = 0 is set as the subsequent process of step S11, and the idling accumulated time measuring process is terminated.

  Next, specific processing of the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement process executed by the idling accumulated fuel amount measuring unit 22 of the control device 20 will be described in order.

  When the ignition switch 30 is turned on by the operation of the automobile driver, the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement process shown in FIG. 4 is started. When this process is started, the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement unit 22 first executes an initialization process in step S21.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement unit 21 determines whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF as the process of step S22. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the ignition switch is represented as IG. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, as the processing of the subsequent step S31, the idling accumulated fuel amount = 0 is set, and the idling accumulated fuel amount measuring process is ended. When the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, that is, in the ON state, the idling accumulated fuel amount = 0 is set as the processing of the subsequent step S23.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement unit 21 determines whether or not the engine is in an idling state as the process of step S24. Whether or not the engine is idling is determined based on detection signals from the speed sensor 50 and the rotation sensor 60. That is, the engine idling condition is when the running speed is 0 and the engine is rotating. When the engine is in an idling state, the idling accumulated fuel amount is updated to the immediately preceding value as the processing of subsequent step S25, and the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement is executed as the processing of step S26 following step S25. On the other hand, when the engine is not in the idling state, the process returns to step S23, and the processes after step S23 are performed again.

  Subsequently, the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement unit 21 determines whether or not the engine is in an idling state as the process of step S27. When the engine is in an idling state, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF as the processing of the subsequent step S28. If the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, the process returns to step S25. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, as the processing of the subsequent step S31, the idling accumulated fuel amount = 0 is set, and the idling accumulated fuel amount measuring process is ended. If the result of determination in step S27 is that the engine is not in the idling state, idling time measurement is stopped as the processing of subsequent step S29. Subsequently, as the process of step S30, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 30 is OFF. If the ignition switch 30 is not OFF, the process returns to step S27, and the processes after step S27 are performed again. When the ignition switch 30 is OFF, as the processing of the subsequent step S31, the idling accumulated fuel amount = 0 is set, and the idling accumulated fuel amount measuring process is ended.

  The idling accumulated time and the idling accumulated fuel amount measured by each process described above are digitally displayed on the multi-display 13.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how the display content on the multi-display 13 is switched. Each time the changeover switch 14 is pressed, the display on the multi-display 13 is switched from the top to the bottom of FIG. 5 in the order of odometer, trip meter, idling accumulated time, and idling accumulated fuel amount. Return to the odometer again and repeat in the same way. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the idling accumulated time after the ignition switch 30 is turned on is 36 minutes 34 seconds, and the idling accumulated fuel amount is 0.59 liters. If the reset switch 15 is pressed while the trip meter is displayed, the display of the trip meter is reset to zero.

  In the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the idling accumulated time measuring unit 21 is provided in the control device 20, thereby measuring the accumulated idling time, and the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement in the control device 20. The unit 22 is provided to measure the cumulative amount of fuel consumed during the idling operation. The measured idling accumulated time and idling accumulated fuel amount are displayed on the multi-display 13. As a result, the driver's awareness of energy saving, that is, the awareness of reducing the idling time of the engine, which is a waste of fuel, can be increased.

  Further, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the multi-display 13 that displays the measured idling accumulated time and idling accumulated fuel amount also displays the odometer and trip meter, and the changeover switch 14 is operated. The display on the multi-display 13 is switched. Thus, the cost can be suppressed by using the display device also as another instrument, and necessary information can be easily confirmed by a simple operation.

  Further, in the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the measured idling accumulated time and idling accumulated fuel amount are displayed as numerical values, so-called digital display. Thereby, the idling accumulated time and the idling accumulated fuel amount can be read directly.

  In addition, in the combination meter 1 by one Embodiment of this invention demonstrated above, although idling information is made into two idling accumulated time and idling accumulated fuel amount, it is good also as only one of them.

  Moreover, in the combination meter 1 by one Embodiment of this invention demonstrated above, the other information displayed using the multi display 13 by which the idling accumulation time and idling accumulation fuel amount are displayed is used as the odometer and trip meter. However, it is not necessary to limit to these, and other types of information, for example, information such as the outside air temperature, travel fuel consumption (travel distance per liter of fuel), travel distance by remaining fuel, etc. are replaced or added. Also good.

  In the combination meter 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the multi-display 13 on which the idling accumulated time and the idling accumulated fuel amount are displayed is also used as an indicator for other information such as an odometer and a trip meter. However, it is possible to dedicate it without using it for both purposes.

The front view of the combination meter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an automobile. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the combination meter 1 by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the specific process sequence of the idling accumulation time measurement process. It is the flowchart which showed the specific process sequence of the idling accumulated fuel amount measurement process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the display switching on the multi display.

Explanation of symbols

1 Combination meter (Vehicle display device)
11 Speedometer 12 Tachometer 13 Multi-display (display, liquid crystal display)
14 changeover switch (display changeover means)
15 reset switch 20 control device 21 idling accumulated time measuring unit (idling information measuring means)
22 Idling cumulative fuel amount measurement unit (idling information measuring means)
30 Ignition switch 40 Battery 50 Speed sensor 60 Rotation sensor 70 Engine ECU

Claims (5)

Idling information measuring means for measuring idling information that is information related to an idling state in which the engine is operating and the running speed is 0;
A display device for a vehicle, comprising: display means for displaying idling information measured by the idling information measuring means on a display. In addition to idling information, vehicle information that is information related to the vehicle is displayed on the display,
The vehicle display device according to claim 1, further comprising display switching means for switching the display on the display to either the idling information or the vehicle information. The idling information measuring means starts measuring when the ignition switch is turned on,
The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein the idling information measuring unit clears the calculated measurement result when the ignition switch is turned off.   The vehicle display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the idling information is at least one of an accumulated time in an idling state and an accumulated fuel amount consumed in the idling state. The display is a liquid crystal display;
5. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the idling information is digitally displayed.

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