JP2009018642A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vehicle capable of suppressing deterioration in visibility of a driver of a vehicle at low temperatures, and presenting the information on physical quantity such as a vehicle state value by giving a high priority to ease of reading. <P>SOLUTION: The display device for a vehicle is equipped with a liquid crystal panel 10 indicating an image in the vehicle, and a control means controlling the liquid crystal panel. The display device for the vehicle is provided with a determining means determining whether it is in a temperature range influencing on responsiveness for renewing the image on the liquid crystal panel according to the detected liquid crystal panel temperature T. The liquid crystal panel has a meter display pixel area 14 indicating a meter image of either one of analog meter images 12a1, 12b1 having pointers and indexes or digital meter images 12a2, 12b2 having numerals and indicating the physical quantity. When the determining means determines the liquid crystal panel temperature is within the temperature range influencing on responsiveness for renewing the image, the controlling means switches the meter image from the analog meter image to the digital meter image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle display device, for example, a display device including a liquid crystal panel that displays an analog meter image for indicating a physical quantity such as a state value of a vehicle is known (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-157434 A

  In the prior art, it is possible to quickly read a physical quantity from a pointer, a scale and a number indicated by the pointer, and to read a change direction and a change degree of the physical quantity from a rotational movement of the pointer. However, at low temperatures, the viscosity of the liquid crystal itself of the liquid crystal panel increases, so that the response time until the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is changed by applying and stopping the application of voltage increases. There is a problem in that the number of pointer images can be seen by the quick movement, and the visibility of the driver of the vehicle is lowered.

  On the other hand, a liquid crystal panel and an alternative display device with excellent low-temperature response compared with this are provided side by side, and the display by the alternative display device is at a low temperature when it is difficult to display the analog meter image on the liquid crystal panel. A method of switching to is conceivable. However, since it is costly to install a liquid crystal panel and an alternative display device in one vehicle display device, the display area of the alternative display device is larger than the display area of the liquid crystal panel used for normal display. There is a possibility of being placed small. In such an alternative display device, there is a possibility that display giving priority to the driver's readability at low temperatures cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its purpose is to suppress vehicle driver visibility at low temperatures while giving priority to readability, and so on. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device capable of transmitting information on the physical quantity of the vehicle.

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

That is, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in a vehicle display device comprising a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image in a vehicle and a control means for controlling the liquid crystal panel,
A detecting means for detecting a temperature of the liquid crystal panel and determining whether the temperature is in a temperature range affecting the responsiveness for image update in the liquid crystal panel based on the detected liquid crystal panel temperature;
The liquid crystal panel has either a pointer as a first image and an index indicated by the pointer, and an analog instrument image indicating a physical quantity, and a digital instrument image having a number as a second image and displaying a physical quantity. An instrument image display pixel area for displaying an instrument image;
When it is determined by the determination means that the liquid crystal panel temperature is in a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update, the control means displays the instrument image to be displayed in the instrument image display pixel area from the analog instrument image, It is characterized by switching to a digital instrument image.

  In this invention, when it is determined by the determination means that the liquid crystal panel temperature is in a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update, the control means displays the instrument image to be displayed in the instrument image display pixel area as the first image. An analog instrument image having a pointer and an index as an image is switched to a digital instrument image having a number as a second image. According to this, since the liquid crystal panel can be switched from an analog type instrument image that indicates a physical quantity such as a vehicle state value by a movement of the pointer at a low temperature to a digital type instrument image that displays the physical quantity with a number, A driver's visibility fall resulting from quick movement can be controlled. Moreover, by stopping the display of the analog instrument image in the instrument image display pixel area, the display area for displaying the digital instrument image is secured to the maximum with the size of the analog instrument image being limited. It is possible to prioritize the readability of numbers (physical quantities) displayed on instrument images.

According to the invention described in claim 2, the control means includes a storage unit that stores both the instrument image of the analog instrument image and the digital instrument image, and regardless of the instrument image of both, Holding time setting means for setting a holding time until the instrument image is updated in the instrument image display pixel region,
A first mode for displaying an analog instrument image in the instrument image display pixel area and a second mode for displaying a digital instrument image in the instrument image display pixel area are set as control modes.
In the second mode, the control means adjusts the holding time according to the liquid crystal panel temperature.

  According to this, when a digital instrument image is displayed in the instrument image display pixel area at a low temperature of the liquid crystal panel, the display time (physical quantity) of the display number in the digital instrument image is adjusted. It is possible to set the update cycle for easy numerical display.

  Moreover, since the holding time can be changed according to the liquid crystal panel temperature, for example, when the liquid crystal panel temperature is at the upper limit of the temperature range at the time of switching, the holding time is shortened compared to the first mode, and the liquid crystal panel temperature is An adjustment method for extending the holding time according to the lower limit value of the temperature range and an adjustment method for making the holding time longer than the holding time of the first mode at the time of switching can be appropriately set. Thereby, even after switching to the second mode at a low temperature, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the visibility of the driver that may occur due to the update of the number depending on the low temperature degree of the liquid crystal panel.

  The instrument image displayed in the instrument image display pixel area is a vehicle state image that displays or indicates a vehicle state value as the physical quantity, as in the invention according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle state image is: At least one of the first vehicle state image indicating the vehicle speed, the second vehicle state image indicating the engine speed, the third vehicle state image indicating the engine coolant temperature, and the third vehicle state image indicating the remaining amount of fuel. is there.

  According to this, as the instrument image for switching from the analog instrument image to the digital instrument image at low temperatures, the first vehicle state image indicating the vehicle speed, the second vehicle state image indicating the engine speed, and the engine coolant temperature are shown. The present invention can be applied to at least one of the third vehicle state image and the third vehicle state image indicating the remaining fuel amount.

  Here, the vehicle speed, the engine speed, the engine cooling water temperature, and the fuel remaining amount as the vehicle state information are, for example, those in which the degree of change in the state value is relatively large in the course of the vehicle travel or the change in the state value. Some are relatively small. In other words, in such different vehicle status information, there are those in which the movement of the pointer is relatively large and that in which it is relatively small.

  On the other hand, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the determination means acquires at least one of vehicle speed, engine speed, engine cooling water temperature, and fuel remaining amount as vehicle state information. It is preferable that the temperature range is set according to vehicle state information to be acquired.

  According to this, when there is a relatively large or relatively small movement of the pointer due to a difference in vehicle state information, the temperature used as a criterion for switching from an analog instrument image to a digital instrument image at low temperatures The range can be changed according to various vehicle status information. Therefore, the range can be expanded to the lower limit side of the liquid crystal panel temperature range that can be displayed as an analog instrument image within a range that does not cause a drop in the visibility of the vehicle driver at low temperatures.

  Further, as the temperature range set according to the vehicle state information, as in the invention according to claim 5, the temperature range is set by the control means in the vehicle speed and the engine speed in the vehicle state information. Are preferably set in the same temperature range.

  In general, in the state information of each vehicle such as the vehicle speed and the engine speed, the movement of the pointer is relatively large and the frequency that the driver visually recognizes is relatively high. Therefore, for example, the driver may feel uncomfortable due to a shift at the time of switching.

  On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 5, the instrument image of the vehicle speed and the engine speed is simultaneously switched from the analog instrument image to the digital instrument image, so that the driver's uncomfortable feeling can be suppressed. .

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a vehicle display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a vehicle display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit configuration of the device 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle display device 1 functions as a combination meter, and includes a liquid crystal panel 10, a backlight 20, a drawing unit 50, a main control unit 60, a vehicle information acquisition unit 62, and the like. ing.

  The liquid crystal panel 10 is a TFT transmissive liquid crystal panel, and is installed in front of the driver seat so that the screen 11 faces the driver seat side of the vehicle. The liquid crystal panel 10 is a dot matrix type having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and realizes image display by driving each pixel. Here, each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 10 is composed of sub-pixels of three colors provided with red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters, respectively. Display is possible.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 10 according to the present embodiment displays a meter display pixel area 14 that displays a meter image 12 as a meter image that includes a plurality of pixels, and a warning image 16 that includes a plurality of pixels. And an abnormal display pixel area 18.

  Specifically, the meter image 12 is an image for instructing the vehicle occupant the state value of the vehicle travel information, and in the present embodiment, a vehicle speed display image indicating the vehicle speed (hereinafter also referred to as a first vehicle state image). 12a, an engine speed display image (hereinafter also referred to as a second vehicle state image) 12b, a water temperature display image (hereinafter also referred to as a third vehicle state image) 12c indicating the engine cooling water temperature, and a remaining fuel amount 12d (hereinafter also referred to as a fourth vehicle state image) 12d, and a background image 12e indicating the background. The meter display pixel area 14 is defined in a rectangular outer peripheral portion excluding a substantially central portion on the screen 11, and displays the meter image 12 (12 a to 12 e) by driving each pixel constituting the area 14.

  Here, the meter image 12 is displayed in the meter display pixel area 14 by an analog display method for instructing the state value (physical quantity). In this embodiment, the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b that indicate the state values of the vehicle speed and the engine speed are displayed as a pointer instrument image as shown in FIG. Further, the water temperature display image 12c and the remaining amount display image 12d for instructing the state values of the engine coolant and the remaining amount of fuel are displayed as a bar display instrument image as shown in FIG.

  The method for analog display of the meter image 12 is not limited to this, and the vehicle speed display image 12a, the rotation speed display image 12b, the water temperature display image 12c, and the remaining amount display image 12d are all displayed as pointer instrument images. It may be configured.

  In addition, the detail of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b displayed by the pointer instrument image in the present embodiment will be described later.

  The warning image 16 is an image that warns the abnormality in order to call attention to the abnormality of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount abnormality display image 16a that indicates an empty abnormality of the remaining amount of fuel, an engine abnormality is indicated. The engine abnormality display image 16b and the water temperature abnormality display image 16c which shows the temperature rise abnormality of engine cooling water are included. About such a warning image 16, the abnormal display pixel area 18 is displayed by driving each component pixel of the area 18 when an abnormality occurs, and is not displayed in a normal state where there is no abnormality. The abnormal display pixel area 18 is defined at a substantially central portion of the screen 11 surrounded by the meter display pixel area 14.

  In FIG. 2, the alternate long and short dash line represents the boundary between the meter display pixel region 14 and the abnormal display pixel region 18. In addition, the two-dot chain line represents the vehicle speed display image 12a, the rotation speed display image 12b, the water temperature display image 12c, and the remaining amount display image 12d, that is, the boundaries 14a and 14b between the vehicle state images 12a to 12d in the meter display pixel region 14. Represents.

  That is, the boundary 14a is a boundary between a pixel region (hereinafter referred to as a first pixel region) for displaying the vehicle speed display image 12a and a pixel region (hereinafter referred to as a fourth pixel region) for displaying the remaining amount display image 12d. The boundary 14a is a boundary between a pixel region (hereinafter referred to as a second pixel region) for displaying the rotation speed display image 12b and a pixel region (hereinafter referred to as a third pixel region) for displaying the water temperature display image 12c.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the backlight 20 includes a light emitting diode 22 and a diffusion plate 24. The light emitting diode 22 is a chip type, and is installed obliquely behind the liquid crystal panel 10 in the vehicle. The light emitting diode 22 is electrically connected to the main control unit 60, and emits light when driven according to a light emission drive signal supplied from the main control unit 60. The diffusing plate 24 is formed of a light transmissive resin in a flat plate shape, and is disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 10 in parallel with the panel 10. The diffusing plate 24 diffuses incident light from the light emitting diodes 22 located adjacent to each other and emits the light from the light emitting surface 26 on the liquid crystal panel 10 side, so that the light emission luminance on the light emitting surface 26 is substantially uniform over the entire area. To do. As described above, the backlight 20 transmits and illuminates the entire liquid crystal panel 10 from behind by the light from the light emitting surface 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the drawing unit 50 includes a drawing circuit 52 and an image memory 54. The drawing circuit 52 includes an IC chip such as an ASIC, and is installed behind the light emitting diode 22 in the vehicle and is electrically connected to the liquid crystal panel 10 and the main control unit 60. The image memory 54 is composed of an EEPROM and is electrically connected to the drawing circuit 52. In the image memory 54, the meter image 12 (12a to 12d) and the warning image 16 are stored in advance as image information before the device 1 is shipped from the factory. As described above, the drawing circuit 52 reads the predetermined meter image 12 (12a to 12d) from the image memory 54 in response to the display command signal from the main control unit 60, and each configuration of the first pixel region 14 according to the display command signal. Meter images 12 (12a to 12d) are displayed on the screen 11 by driving the pixels.

  Here, regarding the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b displayed as the pointer instrument image, analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b1 for normal display, and digital instrument image 12a2 for display at low temperature, 12b2 is stored in the image memory 54 as a set.

  The analog type instrument images 12a1 and 12b1 include a pointer 41 and indexes 43 and 45 indicated by the pointer 41 as images (hereinafter referred to as a first image), and the pointer 41 and the indexes 43 and 45 are combined. The state value (physical quantity) is instructed by combining them. The indicators 43 and 45 include a scale 43, a number 45, and a character 47.

  The digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 have numbers 45 and characters 47 as their images (hereinafter referred to as second images), and display state values (physical quantities) with the numbers 45.

  That is, in the vehicle speed display image 12a, a digital instrument image (hereinafter referred to as a first digital instrument image) 12a2 is shown in FIG. 6 only at a low temperature (hereinafter referred to as a specific low temperature) when a specific condition is satisfied. As described above, the image is displayed in the first pixel area of the meter display pixel area 14. Further, an analog instrument image (hereinafter referred to as a first analog instrument image) 12a1 is displayed in the first pixel region as shown in FIG. 5 in a normal time except for the specific low temperature.

  Also in the rotational speed display image 12b, the digital instrument image (hereinafter referred to as the second digital instrument image) 12b2 shown in FIG. 6 appears in the second pixel area of the meter display pixel area 14 only at the specific low temperature. At the same time, the analog instrument image (hereinafter referred to as second analog instrument image) 12b1 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed in the second pixel area.

  5 and 6, only the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the display of other images other than these is omitted.

  The main control unit 60 is a known microcomputer having a control circuit and a memory, and is installed behind the light emitting diode 22 in the vehicle. The control circuit is electrically connected to the light emitting diode 22 of the backlight 20, the drawing circuit 52 of the drawing unit 50, the temperature sensor 68 that detects the temperature of the liquid crystal panel 10, and the vehicle information acquisition unit 62. Here, the vehicle information acquisition unit 62 includes a state value sensor 64 for vehicle travel information and an abnormality sensor 66 for vehicle abnormality information.

  The state value sensor 64 detects the vehicle state value displayed as the meter image 12 by the meter display pixel area 14 of the liquid crystal panel 10, that is, the vehicle speed, the engine speed, the engine coolant temperature, the remaining fuel amount, and the like, and the detection results thereof. Is transmitted to the control circuit. For example, the state value sensor 64 is a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, an engine speed sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, and a fuel remaining amount sensor (not shown) that is input to the vehicle control device (engine control device). The state value of the vehicle determined based on the signal is acquired via the vehicle control device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and signals from the respective sensors may be input to the main control unit 60 and the main control unit 60 may determine the state value of the vehicle.

  The abnormality sensor 66 detects an abnormality of the vehicle displayed as the warning image 16 by the abnormality display pixel area 18 of the liquid crystal panel 10 and transmits a signal representing the detection result to the control circuit.

  Next, the display operation of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b displayed as the pointer instrument images among the meter images 12 in the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. To do. FIG. 6 shows a display state in which the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are displayed as the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 as the second mode at the specific low temperature. The display state displayed by the analog type instrument images 12a1 and 12b1 as the first mode in the normal time excluding the specific low temperature is shown.

(1) 1st mode The main control part 60 reads the analog type | mold instrument image 12a1, 12b1, and gives the motion according to the state value obtained with the state value sensor 62 to the pointer | guide 41 of the image. That is, the main control unit 60 gives a motion (rotary motion in the present embodiment) according to the state value to the pointer 41 as a moving image, and also displays the pointer 41 as an index (scale 43, number) that is a still image. 45), a display command signal is output to the drawing circuit 52 so as to be displayed in an overlapping manner.

  The drawing circuit 52 displays the first analog instrument image 12a1 of the vehicle speed display image 12a in the first pixel area of the meter display pixel area 14 in accordance with the display command signal corresponding to the state value related to the vehicle speed. The drawing circuit 52 displays the second analog instrument image 12b1 of the rotation speed display image 12b in the second pixel area of the meter display pixel area 14 in accordance with the display command signal corresponding to the state value related to the engine rotation speed. To do.

(2) Second Mode The main control unit 60 detects the temperature T (hereinafter referred to as liquid crystal panel temperature) T of the liquid crystal panel 10 by the temperature sensor 68, and when the liquid crystal panel temperature T satisfies a specific condition, the digital instrument image 12a2, 12b2 is read. The specific condition is that the liquid crystal panel temperature T is in a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image updating.

  At this time, the main control unit 60 adjusts the display holding time t until the image is updated on the liquid crystal panel 10, and displays the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 by updating the image at the interval of the display holding time t.

  Here, the display holding time t is adjusted by the main control unit 60 in the first mode and the second mode, and is adjusted to a value as shown in FIG. 7A, for example. In the first mode, for example, in the second analog instrument image 12b1 of the rotation speed display image 12b, the pointer 41 is moved according to the vehicle speed by repeating image updating.

  On the other hand, in the second digital instrument image 12b2 of the rotation speed display image 12b, the number 45 is displayed according to the vehicle speed by repeating the image update. The display holding time t at this time is set shorter than the display holding time in the second analog instrument image 12b, that is, the first mode, at the predetermined temperature Tc in FIG.

  The second digital instrument image 12b2 that displays the physical quantity with the numeral 45 is displayed on the second analog instrument image 12b1 that indicates the physical quantity with the combination of the pointer 41 and the indicators 43 and 45 when the display holding time to be updated is the same. This is because it is easier to read and has better visibility.

  In the second mode, the display holding time t is adjusted to become longer as the liquid crystal panel temperature T is lower than the predetermined temperature Tc (see FIG. 7A).

  Next, a control flow by the main control unit 60 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow starts when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on.

  First, in S101 (S is a step), based on traveling information (detected state value) from the state value sensor 64, the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are converted into the first analog instrument image 12a1 and the second analog. The detected state value is indicated by the formula instrument image 12b1 (hereinafter referred to as normal display).

  The control processing of S102 and S103 is to determine whether or not the liquid crystal panel temperature T is at the specific low temperature. Based on the liquid crystal panel temperature T, a specific condition “liquid crystal panel temperature T It is determined whether or not it is within a temperature range that affects the responsiveness of ".

  That is, in S102, the liquid crystal panel temperature T is set by the temperature sensor 68. In S103, it is determined whether or not the measured liquid crystal panel temperature T is equal to or less than a specified value Tc. The specified value Tc is set to the upper limit temperature of the temperature range under the specific condition, and is −20 ° C., for example. The specified value Tc is not limited to this, and may be set to a value slightly higher than the upper limit temperature (for example, a value obtained by adding a margin to the upper limit value). As a result, it is possible to avoid the deterioration of the visibility of the analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b1 when the specific condition is satisfied, that is, at the specific low temperature.

  If it is determined in S102 that the liquid crystal panel temperature T is equal to or lower than the specified value Tc, the visibility may be reduced if the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are displayed using the analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b1. If it is determined that there is, there is a transition to S104.

  In S104, the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b is changed from the first mode to the second mode, that is, from the analog instrument images 12a1, 12b1 (see FIG. 5) to the digital instrument images 12a2, 12b2 (FIG. 6). 7), the display holding time t shown in FIG. 7A is adjusted in accordance with the measured liquid crystal panel temperature T.

  In S105, the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b is switched from the first mode to the second mode, and as shown in FIG. 6, the first mode of the second mode is based on the adjusted display holding time t. The digital instrument image 12a2 and the second digital instrument image 12b2 are displayed.

  When it is determined in S102 that the liquid crystal panel temperature T is higher than the specified value Tc, the process returns to S101, and the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are displayed as the first analog instrument image 12a1 and the second analog instrument image. The image is continuously displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10 at 12b1.

  When the control process of S105 is executed, the process returns to S102 and determines whether or not the specific condition is satisfied in S103. Thereby, according to the liquid crystal panel temperature T measured whenever it determines, it can switch to the optimal mode among 1st mode and 2nd mode.

  Here, the control processing of S102 and S103 corresponds to determination means for determining whether or not the temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update in the liquid crystal panel is based on the liquid crystal panel temperature described in the claims. To do. Further, the control processing in S103 corresponds to the holding time setting means described in the claims. In the control process of S103, the specified value Tc is an indispensable condition for being in the temperature range.

  The meter display pixel area corresponds to the instrument image display pixel area in the claims.

  In the present embodiment described above, among the meter images 12 that display or indicate the state values of the vehicle, in the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b in which the normal display is displayed as a pointer instrument image, “liquid crystal When the panel temperature T is within a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update, and a determination means for determining whether or not the specific condition is satisfied is provided. The analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b2 indicating the state value with the pointer 41 are switched to the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 displaying the state value with the numeral 45.

  According to this, when the liquid crystal panel 10 is in “at a specific low temperature” that satisfies the specific condition, the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b is the first analog instrument image 12a1 of normal display and Instead of the second analog instrument image 12b2, the first digital instrument image 12a2 and the second digital instrument image 12b2 are switched to each other and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the driver's visibility deterioration caused by the quick movement of the pointer 41 at “at a specific low temperature”.

  Moreover, the first analog instrument image 12a1 and the second analog instrument image 12b2 are displayed in the first pixel area and the second pixel area of the meter display pixel area 14 for displaying the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b. The display area for displaying the first digital instrument image 12a2 and the second digital instrument image 12b2 is limited to the size of the first analog instrument image 12a1 and the second analog instrument image 12b2, respectively. It is secured to the maximum. Therefore, priority can be given to the readability of the numbers (physical quantities representing the state values) displayed on the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2.

  Further, in the present embodiment described above, there is provided holding time setting means for setting the display holding time t that is held until the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10 is updated, and in the second mode, that is, the first digital instrument image 12a2 and When the second digital instrument image 12b2 is displayed, the display holding time t is adjusted according to the liquid crystal panel temperature T at that time.

  Thus, when the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b are displayed in the second mode at the specific low temperature, the first digital instrument image 12a2 and the second digital instrument image 12b2 in the second mode are displayed. The display holding time t of the number 45 (physical quantity) can be adjusted as appropriate. Accordingly, it is possible to set the number display update cycle that is easy for the driver to read.

  Further, in the present embodiment described above, in the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b, whether or not the specific condition is satisfied is determined based on the common specified value Tc, and the first mode and the second mode. It is preferable that the mode switching timing be the same for the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b.

  In general, in the state information of each vehicle such as the vehicle speed and the engine speed, the movement of the pointer 41 is relatively large and the frequency that the driver visually recognizes is relatively high. For this reason, for example, the driver may feel uncomfortable due to a timing shift at the time of switching.

  In contrast, in the above configuration, the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b of the vehicle speed and the engine speed are simultaneously switched from the analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b1 to the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2. Can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is limited to this embodiment and is not interpreted and can be applied to various embodiment in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  (1) In the present embodiment described above, the display method for switching between the analog instrument images 12a1 and 12b2 to be displayed at normal time and the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 to be displayed at a specific low temperature is used. This was applied to the number display image 12b. Not limited to this, in the meter image 12, at least one of the vehicle speed display image 12a, the rotation speed display image 12b, the water temperature display image 12c, and the remaining amount display image 12d is normally displayed as a pointer instrument image. If present, the above display method can be applied.

  (2) In the present embodiment described above, in the display method, the display holding time t is adjusted according to the liquid crystal panel temperature T in the second mode at a specific low temperature, and the liquid crystal panel temperature T is defined. In the case of the value Tc, it was set to be shorter than the display holding time in the first mode, and the liquid crystal panel temperature T was set to become longer as the value was lower than the predetermined temperature Tc.

  Not limited to this, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, in all the second modes, the display holding time may be set longer than the display holding time of the first mode. Thereby, even after switching to the second mode at a specific low temperature, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the visibility of the driver, which may occur due to the update of the numbers depending on the low temperature degree of the liquid crystal panel 10. .

  (3) For example, depending on the driver who is not familiar with the second mode in which the display is performed only at a specific low temperature, it may be better to deliberately update the numerical display of the digital instrument images 12a2 and 12b2 in the second mode. In such a case, the characteristics of the display holding time t as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C are suitable. For example, you may comprise so that the said characteristic in any of FIG.7 (a), FIG.7 (b), and FIG.7 (c) can be selected by a driver | operator's liking.

  (4) In the present embodiment described above, in the display method of the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b, whether or not a specific condition is satisfied is determined based on the common specified value Tc, and the first mode and the first mode. The switching timing of the two modes was made simultaneous in the vehicle speed display image 12a and the rotation speed display image 12b.

  However, the display is not limited to this. For example, a meter image 12, and at least one of a vehicle speed display image 12a, a rotation speed display image 12b, a water temperature display image 12c, and a remaining amount display image 12d is normally displayed as a pointer instrument image. In the present invention, different prescribed values, that is, different temperature ranges may be set according to different vehicle state information such as vehicle speed, engine speed, engine coolant temperature, and fuel remaining amount.

  For example, there are cases where the movement of the pointer is relatively large or relatively small due to the difference in vehicle state information. With the above-described configuration, it is possible to appropriately set a prescribed value as a determination criterion for switching from an analog instrument image to a digital instrument image at a specific low temperature in accordance with various vehicle state information. Therefore, it is possible to expand the liquid crystal panel temperature range that can be displayed as an analog instrument image to the lower limit side within a range that does not cause a decrease in driver visibility at the specific low temperature.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus for vehicles by embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is sectional drawing of II of FIG. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the display apparatus for vehicles by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric circuit structure of the display apparatus for vehicles by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image display of the liquid crystal panel at the time of the normal display of embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the front view which made the instrument image the display state of 1st mode. It is a figure which shows the image display of the liquid crystal panel at the time of low temperature of embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is the front view which made the display state of the instrument image the display state of the 2nd mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of setting a display holding time value until the display is updated in the instrument image displayed on the liquid crystal panel in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7A and FIG. FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram showing each example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus for vehicles 10 Liquid crystal panel 11 Screen 12 Meter image 12a Vehicle speed display image 12a1 1st analog type instrument image (analog type instrument image)
12a2 First digital instrument image (digital instrument image)
12b Revolution display image 12b1 Second analog instrument image (analog instrument image)
12b2 Second digital instrument image (digital instrument image)
12c Water temperature display image 12d Remaining amount display image 14 Meter display pixel area (instrument image display pixel area)
16 Warning image 18 Abnormal display pixel area 20 Backlight 22 Light emitting diode 24 Diffusion plate 26 Light emitting surface 41 Pointer 43 Scale 45 Number 47 Character 50 Drawing part (control means)
52 Drawing Circuit 54 Image Memory 60 Main Control Unit (Control Unit)
62 Vehicle information acquisition unit (acquisition means)
64 State value sensor for running information 66 Abnormal sensor for abnormal information 68 Temperature sensor

Claims (5)

In a vehicle display device comprising: a liquid crystal panel that displays an image in a vehicle; and a control unit that controls the liquid crystal panel.
Determining means for detecting the temperature of the liquid crystal panel and determining whether or not the temperature is in a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update in the liquid crystal panel based on the detected liquid crystal panel temperature;
The liquid crystal panel is
An instrument image that has a pointer as a first image and an index indicated by the pointer and indicates a physical quantity, and a digital instrument image that has a number as a second image and displays a physical quantity, An instrument image display pixel area to display,
When it is determined by the determination means that the liquid crystal panel temperature is in a temperature range that affects the responsiveness for image update,
The vehicle display device, wherein the control means switches the instrument image to be displayed in the instrument image display pixel region from the analog instrument image to the digital instrument image. The control means includes
A storage unit for storing instrument images of both the analog instrument image and the digital instrument image;
Regardless of either of the two instrument images, holding time setting means for setting a holding time until the instrument image is updated in the instrument image display pixel region;
With
A first mode for displaying the analog instrument image in the instrument image display pixel area and a second mode for displaying the digital instrument image in the instrument image display pixel area are set as control modes,
2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the holding time in accordance with the liquid crystal panel temperature in the second mode. The instrument image displayed in the instrument image display pixel region is a vehicle state image that displays or indicates a vehicle state value as the physical quantity,
The vehicle state image includes a first vehicle state image indicating vehicle speed, a second vehicle state image indicating engine speed, a third vehicle state image indicating engine cooling water temperature, and a third vehicle state image indicating fuel remaining amount. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is at least one of them. The determination means includes
An acquisition means for acquiring at least one of the vehicle speed, the engine speed, the engine cooling water temperature, and the fuel remaining amount as the vehicle state information;
The vehicle display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature range is set according to the acquired state information of the vehicle. The determination means includes
The vehicle display device according to claim 4, wherein the temperature range is set to the same temperature range in the vehicle speed and the engine speed among the vehicle state information.

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