WO2006070511A1 - Vehicle information display device and vehicle information display method - Google Patents

Abstract

As increase of the vehicle speed closely associated with the driver’s driving load, the display format of vehicle information such as an average fuel consumption, a distance travelable, and an air temperature are successively changed from the standard figures displayed with a standard size to enlarged figures, a bar graph, icon, and color display which can be recognized by the driver more easily. Thus, the vehicle driver can recognize the vehicle information regardless of the vehicle speed. That is, it is possible to improve the recognition degree of the vehicle driver without disturbing the vehicle driving. Moreover, even when traveling on an express highway, the distance travelable is displayed in a simplified way and the driver can recognize it without watching it with a great care. Thus, the display method can be adapted to the actual driving condition.

Description

 Specification

 Vehicle information display device and vehicle information display method

 Technical field

 TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a technology for improving the recognition degree of a vehicle driver while preventing vehicle driving in a vehicle information display device that displays vehicle information such as average fuel consumption, travelable distance, and outside air temperature.

 Background art

 [0002] In recent years, in some vehicles, a combination meter installed on a dashboard is practically used with a vehicle information display device that displays vehicle information such as average fuel consumption, travelable distance, and outside air temperature in numbers. It is turned into a roar. When the vehicle driver recognizes vehicle information, the time that can be watched differs depending on whether the vehicle speed is high or low. In other words, if the vehicle speed is low, there is a margin in driving, and it is possible to easily recognize standard numbers displayed at standard points (sizes) in which vehicle information can be watched for a relatively long time. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed is high, there is not enough room for driving, so it is difficult to recognize standard numbers with a short time to watch the vehicle information. For this reason, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-234107 (Patent Document 1) that does not interfere with vehicle driving, a technique for hiding vehicle information during vehicle traveling has been proposed. Yes.

 Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-234107

 Disclosure of the invention

 Problems to be solved by the invention

[0003] However, in actual vehicle driving, for example, it is necessary to check the distance that can be traveled while driving on a highway. Therefore, vehicle information must be referred to regardless of whether the vehicle speed is high or low. The situation can be seen. Even though the vehicle speed is high, it is difficult to recognize the vehicle information at a glance, and if it is displayed as a standard number, the vehicle driver may watch the number and disturb the driving of the vehicle. Similar problems may also occur in steering operations that are closely related to the driving load, not just the vehicle speed. [0004] Therefore, in view of the conventional problems as described above, the present invention changes the vehicle information display format according to the vehicle speed and the steering angle that are closely related to the driving load of the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information display technology that improves the vehicle driver's recognition level.

 Means for solving the problem

[0005] For this reason, in the vehicle information display technology according to the present invention, the display format of the vehicle information displayed on the display device is changed according to the driving load of the vehicle driver detected by the load detection device. Features. At this time, the display format of the vehicle information is changed from a standard character that should be sequentially changed to a simplified one that is easy for humans to recognize as the driving load increases, to an enlarged number, bar graph, icon, and color display. It is desirable to change.

 The invention's effect

 [0006] According to the vehicle information display technology of the present invention, the display format of the vehicle information is changed according to the driving load of the vehicle driver. For this reason, if the display format of the vehicle information is appropriately changed to one that can be easily recognized by humans, the recognition degree of the vehicle driver can be improved while preventing the vehicle from being hindered. Even when traveling on an expressway, for example, the travelable distance is displayed in a simplified manner, so that it can be recognized without observing it more than necessary, and it can be adapted to the actual situation of vehicle driving. it can.

 Brief Description of Drawings

 [0007] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a combination meter equipped with a vehicle information display device according to the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing details of the vehicle information display device.

 FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the vehicle information display device.

 FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is standard characters.

 FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is enlarged characters.

 FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is a bar graph.

 FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is an icon.

 FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is an icon.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the display format of vehicle information is displayed in color. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when the display brightness of the vehicle information is lowered. Explanation of symbols

 [0008] 18 display device

 18A LCD

 18B knockry rice bowl

 20 LCD driver

 22 Back ry HZF

 24 Control unit

 26 Sensor I / F

 28 Vehicle speed sensor

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

 FIG. 1 shows a combination meter equipped with a vehicle information display device according to the present invention. The combination meter 10 includes at least a speedometer 12 for displaying the vehicle speed, a fuel gauge 14 for displaying the remaining amount of fuel, a plurality of warning lights 16 for notifying various abnormalities, a display device 18 for displaying vehicle information, Are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 18 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 18A and a backlight 18B disposed on the back surface thereof. Here, it is desirable that the knocklight 18B be capable of arbitrarily switching a plurality of colors that change the display color or background color of the vehicle information.

[0010] In addition to the display device 18, the vehicle information display device includes an LCD driver 20 that drives the LCD 18A, a backlight interface (IZF) 22 that changes the brightness and color of the backlight 18B, and a computer. It includes a control device 24 and a sensor interface (IZF) 26 that secures an interface with the sensor. Then, it is necessary to indirectly detect the driving load of the vehicle driver. For example, a signal of a vehicle speed sensor 28 (load detection device) force that detects the vehicle speed S via the rotation speed of the axle shaft is input to the control device 24, The display format of the vehicle information on the display device 18 is appropriately changed via the LCD driver 20 and the backlight IZF 22 by a control program stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory). FIG. 3 shows the processing contents of the control program executed in the control device 24 when the idling switch is turned on.

 In step 1 (abbreviated as “S1” in the figure, and so on), various initializations are performed. That is, the vehicle information should be initially displayed. The vehicle information is displayed with standard numbers as shown in Fig. 1, and the thresholds A to D (A and B < Read C <D) and control time interval respectively. Here, the thresholds A to D are set with, for example, vehicle speed thresholds for determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling at extremely low speed, low speed, medium speed, high speed or extremely high speed. In addition, by reading the thresholds A to D and the control time interval from a ROM or the like, the control contents can be easily changed without changing the control program.

 [0012] In step 2, it is determined whether or not the force has reached a predetermined time after the previous processing has been performed, that is, whether or not the force has reached the control time interval. Here, as the predetermined time, an appropriate time interval should be set so as not to give the vehicle driver a sense of incongruity by frequently changing the display format of the vehicle information. . If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 3 (Yes), while if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process waits (No).

 In step 3, the vehicle speed S is read from the vehicle speed sensor 28.

 In step 4, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed is 0, that is, whether or not the vehicle is stopped. If the vehicle speed S is 0, the process proceeds to step 5 (Yes), and the vehicle information display format is changed to a standard number as shown in FIG. 4, and then the process returns to step 2. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed S is not 0, proceed to Step 6 (No).

 [0014] In step 6, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold A, that is, whether or not the vehicle is traveling at an extremely low speed. If the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold value A, the process proceeds to step 7 (Yes), and the vehicle information display format is changed to an enlarged number as shown in FIG. Here, “enlarged numbers” refers to numbers that have a larger point (size) than standard numbers. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed S is greater than the threshold A, the process proceeds to step 8 (No).

[0015] In step 8, it is determined whether the vehicle speed S is a force force that is equal to or less than the threshold value B, that is, whether the vehicle speed is low and the vehicle is traveling. If the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold value B, the process proceeds to step 9 (Yes), and the vehicle information display format is changed to a bar graph as shown in FIG. And return. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed S is greater than the threshold B, the process proceeds to Step 10 (No). In step 10, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold value C, that is, whether or not the vehicle is driving at medium speed. If the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold C, the process proceeds to step 11 (Yes), and the vehicle information display format is changed to an icon as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, and then the process returns to step 2. Here, the “icon” is a symbol having a specific meaning, such as a pictograph or a symbol. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed S is greater than the threshold C, the process proceeds to step 12 (No).

 [0016] In step 12, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed S is equal to or less than a threshold value D, that is, whether or not the vehicle is traveling at high speed. If the vehicle speed S is less than or equal to the threshold value D, the process proceeds to step 13 (Yes), and after changing the color of the backlight 18B to change the vehicle information display format to color display, as shown in FIG. Return to step 2. Here, “color display” displays vehicle information by color. On the other hand, if the vehicle speed S is greater than the threshold value D, that is, if the vehicle is traveling at an extremely high speed, the process proceeds to step 14 (No), as shown in FIG. 10, which reduces the display brightness of the vehicle information. After reducing the brightness of the cock light 18B, return to step 2.

 [0017] According to such a vehicle information display device, the display format of the vehicle information is as follows: as the vehicle speed increases, as shown in Figs. Will be changed sequentially. For this reason, the vehicle information is sequentially displayed in a simplified display format that is easy for humans to recognize as the vehicle speed increases, so that it can be easily recognized regardless of the vehicle speed. The vehicle driver's recognition level can be improved while not obstructing. Also, even when traveling on an expressway, for example, the distance that can be traveled is displayed in a simplified manner, so that it can be recognized without paying more attention than necessary, and it must be adapted to the actual situation of vehicle driving. Can do.

 [0018] Further, when the vehicle is traveling at an extremely high speed, the vehicle driver should pay attention to the vehicle information by reducing the display brightness of the vehicle information so as not to hinder the vehicle operation. Can be suppressed and can concentrate on driving the vehicle.

Instead of the vehicle speed S, an output from a steering angle sensor (load detection device) that detects the steering angle Θ may be used to indirectly detect the driving load of the vehicle driver. At this time, it can be assumed that the driving load increases as the absolute value of the steering angle Θ increases. Yes. Further, when the display color or background color of vehicle information and the display brightness can be changed by a single LCD, the LCD may be directly controlled without controlling the knocklight.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] a display device for displaying vehicle information;  A load detection device for detecting a driving load of a vehicle driver;  A control device that changes a display format of vehicle information displayed on the display device according to a driving load detected by the load detection device;  A vehicle information display device comprising:  [2] The control device may sequentially change the display format of the vehicle information from a standard number to an enlarged number, a bar graph, an icon, and a color display as the driving load increases. 1. The vehicle information display device according to 1. 3. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the control device reduces display brightness of the vehicle information when the driving load exceeds a predetermined value. 4. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the control device reads a driving load from the load detection device at predetermined time intervals. [5] The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the load detection device indirectly detects a driving load from a vehicle speed. 6. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the load detection device indirectly detects a driving load from a steering angle. [7] A vehicle information display method, wherein the control device changes a display format of vehicle information displayed on the display device according to the driving load of the vehicle driver detected by the load detection device.  [8] The control device may sequentially change the display format of the vehicle information from a standard number to an enlarged number, a bar graph, an icon, and a color display as the driving load increases. 7. The vehicle information display method according to 7.