VEHICLE DISPLAY APPARATUS
20170098425 ยท 2017-04-06
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60K35/80
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60K35/53
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09G5/003
PHYSICS
B60K2360/682
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G06F1/1603
PHYSICS
B60K35/60
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60K35/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09G5/00
PHYSICS
B60K35/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60K35/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
G09G5/00
PHYSICS
Abstract
A vehicle display apparatus includes a display part for use in a vehicle and displaying information; and a cover part capable of switching its state between a first state not allowing the display part to be visually recognized by a vehicle driver and a second state allowing the display part to be visually recognized by the vehicle driver.
Claims
1. A vehicle display apparatus comprising: a display part for use in a vehicle and displaying information; and a cover part capable of switching its state between a first state not allowing the display part to be visually recognized by a vehicle driver and a second state allowing the display part to be visually recognized by the vehicle driver.
2. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover part constitutes a part of a surface of an instrument panel of the vehicle and is capable of moving within a range from a first position where the surface and the cover part form a single flat surface to a second position where at least a portion of the cover part is separated from the surface, and the display part is in the first state upon the cover part being at the first position and in the second state upon the cover part being at the second position, the display part directing its display surface in a direction corresponding to a viewpoint position of the vehicle driver upon being in the second state.
3. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display part is stored into the instrument panel to be in the first state upon the cover part being at the first position, and the display part is exposed from the instrument panel to be in the second state upon the cover part being at the second position.
4. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle display apparatus determines, when the display part is in the first state, whether to switch the display part into the second state depending on the information to be displayed on the display part.
5. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle display apparatus determines to switch the display part into the second state when the information to be displayed on the display part is emergency information regarding an emergent state of the vehicle.
6. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of a position of the display part and a position of the cover part is adjusted to direct the display surface in the direction corresponding to the viewpoint position of the vehicle driver.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
[0044] Configurations of a vehicle display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention (hereinafter referred to as display apparatus 10) will hereinafter be described with reference to drawings.
[0045] As shown in
[0046] As shown in
[0047] In the vehicle front side end of the cover part 11 (in
[0048] This hinge mechanism enables the cover part 11 to rotate about the rotation shaft 14z in the direction of the arrow a shown in
[0049] In the vehicle lower side end of the display 15 (in
[0050] This hinge mechanism enables the display 15 to rotate about the rotation shaft 14y in the direction of the arrow b shown in
[0051] The display surface 15z of the display 15 has a curved shape curved inward (toward the vehicle front side. In
[0052] As shown in
[0053] The cover drive mechanism 41 and display drive mechanism 42 may also be controlled by a control unit (including ECU) or the like for controlling a panel meter and the like arranged in the instrument panel 20, or may also be controlled by a control unit designed exclusively for the display apparatus 10. In any case, the control unit receives, through an onboard network or the like, operation data representing the operation states of the vehicle (for example, speeds, G values (acceleration) and vehicle distances), and transmits control signals to the cover drive mechanism 41 and display drive mechanism 42.
[0054]
[0055] The memory 47 stores operation programs, display data and so on to be executed by ECU 45. The display data include, for example, information (such as a danger mark) expressing a high possibility of the vehicle colliding with an object or the like existing ahead of it, and information (such an over-speed text) expressing that the speed of the vehicle has exceeded a specific limit value. The memory 47 stores a display angle corresponding to the viewpoint position of the driver hm seated on a driver seat. Into the input I/F 48, there are input operation data such as vehicle speed, G values and vehicle distances measured by other control units.
[0056] Referring to a flow chart of
[0057] First, in Step S1, ECU 45 inputs operation data such as vehicle speeds, G values and vehicle distances through the input I/F 48.
[0058] Next, in Step S2, ECU 45 checks according to the operation data whether information (emergency information) expressing the emergent state of the vehicle has been detected or not. When not detected, ECU 45 determines No in Step S2 and returns to the processing of Step S1. When detected, ECU 45 determines Yes in Step S2 and advances to Step S3, where it drives the cover drive mechanism 41 to start a lift-up operation for opening the cover part 11.
[0059] Next, in Step S4, ECU 45 reads display data corresponding to the emergency information stored in the memory 47 and a target display angle corresponding to the viewpoint position of the driver hm seated on the driver seat. In addition, the viewpoint position of the driver hm may also be: a viewpoint position previously designed (estimated) from the previously assumed position of the head of the driver hm (no posterior adjustment is performed); or, a viewpoint position operated specifically from the actual position of the head of the driver hm measured using a camera or the like (posterior adjustment is performed).
[0060] Next, in Step S5, ECU 45 performs a wakeup operation to stand up the display 15 using the display drive mechanism 42, thereby adjusting the angle of the display 15 such that the actual display angle coincides with the above-mentioned target display angle. That is, through Steps S3 to S5, the display 15 is switched into a state where it can be visually recognized by the driver hm.
[0061] Next, in Step S6, after the cover part 11 opens and after the display stands up, ECU 45 controls the display 15 to display the emergency information (see
[0062] As shown in
[0063] Next, in Step S7, ECU 45 receives again the operation data through the input I/F 48. And, in Step S8, it checks according to the operation data input through the input I/F 48 whether the emergent state of the vehicle is removed or not. For example, when not removed, ECU 45 determines No in Step S8 and returns to Step S6. Meanwhile, when removed, it advances to Step S9, where it controls the cover drive mechanism 41 to start to close the cover part 11 and also controls the display drive mechanism 42 to start to incline the display 15. On completion of the closing operation of the cover part 11, the cover part 11 provides a part of the instrument panel 20 and thus becomes flush with it, whereby the display apparatus 10 is hard to be seen (see
[0064] As shown in
[0065] After then, ECU 45 returns to the processing of Step S1 and repeats the above-mentioned routine.
[0066] Thus, by moving the cover part 11 from the storage position (first position) to the lift-up position (second position), the display 15 (display part) turns from the visual recognition disabling state to the visual recognition enabling state. This makes the driver hm recognize the display 15 (display part) with surprise and originality as if it appears suddenly from the normal instrument panel 20. Further, since the display surface 15z goes toward the viewpoint position of the driver hm, the visual recognition performance of information displayed on the display 15 is enhanced. Thus, display apparatus 10 can display the information to be transmitted to the driver hm with high visual recognition performance without impairing the beauty of the instrument panel 20 of the vehicle as much as possible.
[0067] Further, while the importance of the information to be displayed on the display 15 (in this example, whether it is emergency information or not) is taken into consideration, the movement of the cover part 11 can be controlled. Thus, when compared with a case where the cover part 11 is moved from the first position to the second position without such consideration (for example, always in the engine starting time), it is easy to attract the attention of the driver hm. Specifically, the cover part 11, which exists in the first position in the normal time (while it is closed), in an emergency, is moved (opened) to the second position. Thus, the display apparatus 10 allows the driver hm to recognize more positively the information to be transmitted to the driver hm.
[0068] Further, since the display 15 can be inclined independently of the cover part 11, the position (inclination angle) of the display 15 can be adjusted while the cover part 11 remains fixed. This enables further enhancement in information visual recognition performance.
Second Embodiment
[0069] Next, referring to
[0070] In the display apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, the display surface 15z of the display 15 has a curved shape. Meanwhile, in the display apparatus 10A of the second embodiment, the display surface 15z1 of the display 15A has a flat shape.
[0071] Since the structure of the display apparatus 10A is substantially the same as that of the display apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, the same composing elements as the display apparatus 10 are given the same designations and thus the description thereof is omitted. This applies similarly to the third to sixth embodiments of the invention.
[0072] As shown in
[0073] For example, ECU 45 can be structured such that it controls the display drive mechanism 42 to adjust the angle (inclination from a horizontal surface) of the display surface 15z1, whereby a direction (hereinafter referred to as display direction) perpendicular to the display surface 15z1 is matched to a direction (eye direction) corresponding to the viewpoint position of the driver hm. Specifically, ECU 45 may also control the display drive mechanism 42 such that the viewpoint position of the driver hm is repeatedly detected using a camera or the like to obtain information about the real-time detected viewpoint position of the driver hm, thereby always causing the display direction to provide the viewpoint direction of the driver hm. Thus, the angle of the display surface 15z1 can be adjusted correspondingly to the movement of the viewpoint position of the driver hm, thereby enabling enhancement in information visual recognition performance.
Third Embodiment
[0074] Next, description is given of a vehicle display apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention (hereinafter referred to as display apparatus 10B) with reference to
[0075] As shown in
[0076] The arrangement of the display 15B at such position enables the cover part 11 to prevent an external light from entering the display 15B, whereby the periphery of the display 15B becomes dark. Thus, the brightness of an image displayed on the display surface 15z2 becomes relatively larger than that of the periphery thereof, thereby enabling enhancement in information visual recognition performance.
[0077] In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, description has been given of the structure in which, by opening and closing the cover part 11 forming a part of the surface of the instrument panel 20, the displays 15, 15A and 15B are switched over between the visually recognizable state (first state) and the visually unrecognizable state (second state). Next, description is given of embodiments (fourth to sixth embodiments) in which first and second states are switched over to each other using a mechanism different from that of the first to third embodiments.
Fourth Embodiment
[0078] Description is given of a vehicle display apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a display apparatus 100) according to a fourth embodiment of the invention with reference to
[0079] In the display apparatus 100, differently from the first to third embodiments, the cover part 11 is immovably fixed to the instrument panel 20. And, instead of the movement of the cover part 11 in the first to third embodiments, multiple fins 31 arranged before the display surface 15z3 of the display 15C can be rotated. Due to the rotation of the multiple fins 31, the first and second states can be switched over to each other.
[0080] Specifically, in the display apparatus 100, the display surface 15z3 of the display 15C is a plane and the multiple fins 31 are arranged before the display surface 15z3. The display 150 is arranged within a space surrounded by the cover part 11, a lateral wall surface 19 and the surface of the instrument panel 20.
[0081] The inclination (fin angle) of the multiple fins 31 can be changed by a drive mechanism (not shown) such as a motor and a gear. And, similarly to the first embodiment (see the flow chart of
[0082] In addition, the target fin angle, similarly to the first embodiment, may be a fin angle previously designed (estimated) from the previously assumed position of the head of the driver hm (no posterior adjustment is performed), or may be a fin angle specified from the actual position of the head of the driver hm measured using a camera or the like (posterior adjustment is performed).
[0083] In addition, the fins 31 may be arranged in parallel (transversely) to the surface of the instrument panel 20 as shown in
Fifth Embodiment
[0084] Next, description is given of a vehicle display apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a display apparatus 100) according to a fifth embodiment of the invention with reference to
[0085] As shown in
[0086] The cover part 11D is structured such that the neighborhood of the central portion thereof can be folded. In the surface of the cover part 11D on this side in
[0087] Thus, the inclination of the surface 15z4 of the display 15D is changed, thereby enabling adjustment of the display direction in the eye direction of the driver hm. Also, while the cover part 11D is closed, the display direction of the display 15D is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the instrument panel 20, thereby substantially disabling the driver hm to visually recognize the display surface 15z4 of the display 150. Further, in this state, nothing is displayed on the display 15D. That is, the display 15D is in a state where it substantially cannot be visually recognized by the driver hm.
[0088] In addition, when the cover part 11D is closed, an image of the same color or the same pattern as the instrument panel 20 may also be displayed on the display 15D. This can make it harder for the driver hm to visually recognize the display 15D. Further, the cover part 11D may also be moved slightly downward in
Sixth Embodiment
[0089] Next, description is given of a vehicle display apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a display apparatus 10E) according to a sixth embodiment of the invention with reference to
[0090] As shown in
[0091] The cover part 11E has a slight recess in the surface thereof and the display 15E is arranged to be stored within the recess. Thus, while the cover part 11E is closed, the surface of the cover part 11E becomes substantially flush with the surface of the instrument panel 20. Also, when the cover part 11E is folded into a valley shape, it is moved toward the back side in
[0092] This changes the inclination of the display surface 15z5 of the display 15E, thereby enabling adjustment of the display direction to the eye direction of the driver hm. Also, while the cover part 11E is closed, the display direction of the display 15E is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the instrument panel 20, thereby substantially disabling the driver hm to visually recognize the display surface 15z5 of the display 15E. Further, in this state, nothing is displayed on the display 15D. That is, the display 15E is in a state where it substantially cannot be visually recognized by the driver hm.
[0093] In addition, while the cover part 11E is closed, an image of the same color or the same pattern as the instrument panel 20 there may also be displayed on the display 15E. This can make it harder for the driver hm to visually recognize the display 15E. Further, the cover part 110 may also be moved slightly upward in
Other Embodiment
[0094] The invention is not limited within the above specific embodiments, various modifications corrections may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0095] For example, in the first to third, fifth and sixth embodiments, the cover part and display are separated from each other, and the operation to open the cover part and the operation to incline the display are performed by different drive mechanisms. However, the cover part and display may also be connected to each other. For example, as shown in
[0096] Further, as the method for opening and closing the cover part, in the above respective embodiments, there has been shown the drive mechanism for rotating the cover part about the front end (vehicle forward side end) thereof. However, there may also be employed other various drive mechanisms including: for example, a slide-type drive mechanism in which, after the cover part is slightly moved up and down, it is moved horizontally; a lift-type drive mechanism which moves the cover part up and down while holding it in parallel; and, a gate-type drive mechanism which opens and closes the cover part in a manner to divide it to right and left sections in the center thereof.
[0097] In addition, the characteristics of the above embodiment of the vehicle display apparatus of the invention are described briefly as the following item (1) to (6).
(1) A vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) comprising:
[0098] a display part (15 to 15F) for use in a vehicle and displaying information; and
[0099] a cover part (11, 31) capable of switching its state between a first state not allowing the display part (15 to 15F) to be visually recognized by a vehicle driver (hm) and a second state allowing the display part (15 to 15F) to be visually recognized by the vehicle driver (hm).
(2) The vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) according to claim 1, wherein
[0100] the cover part (11, 31) constitutes a part of a surface of an instrument panel (20) of the vehicle and is capable of moving within a range from a first position (see
[0101] the display part (15 to 15F) is in the first state upon the cover part (11, 31) being at the first position (see
(3) The vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) according to claim 2, wherein
[0102] the display part (15 to 15F) is stored into the instrument panel (20) to be in the first state upon the cover part (11, 31) being at the first position (see
(4) The vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) according to claim 1, wherein
[0103] the vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) determines, when the display part (15 to 15F) is in the first state, whether to switch the display part (15 to 15F) into the second state depending on the information to be displayed on the display part (15 to 15F).
(5) The vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) according to claim 4, wherein
[0104] the vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) determines to switch the display part (15 to 15F) into the second state when the information to be displayed on the display part (15 to 15F) is emergency information regarding an emergent state of the vehicle.
(6) The vehicle display apparatus (10 to 10F) according to claim 2, wherein
[0105] at least one of a position of the display part (15 to 15F) and a position of the cover part (11, 31) is adjusted to direct the display surface (15z to 15z6) in the direction corresponding to the viewpoint position of the vehicle driver (hm).
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0106] 10 Display apparatus
[0107] 11 Cover part
[0108] 15 Display part (display)
[0109] 20 Instrument panel