JP3215595B2 - Combination meter for automobile - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle combination meter provided with various instruments such as a speedometer and a tachometer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a so-called combination meter provided with various instruments such as a speedometer for displaying the running speed of the vehicle and a tachometer for displaying the rotation speed of an engine mounted on the vehicle. There are things. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the combination meter. The meter case 1 has a configuration in which a speedometer unit 3 and a tachometer unit 5 are mounted. The speedometer unit 3 is provided with a distance accumulator 9 for displaying the traveling distance of the vehicle on a liquid crystal display or an LCD in addition to the speedometer 7.
These are mounted on the wiring board 11. A tachometer 13 is mounted on the wiring board 15 in the tachometer unit 5. The speedometer 7 and the tachometer 13 include cross-coil movements 17 and 19, and the hands 21 and 19 rotate in conjunction with the magnet rotors of the movements 17 and 19.
23 are analog type meters respectively. In the cross-coil type movements 17 and 19, a drive current corresponding to the vehicle speed or the number of revolutions is supplied to two coils wound on the bobbin so as to cross each other, and thereby each magnetic field is generated by the two coils. The magnet rotor is rotated together with the hands 21 and 23. Speedometer 7 / Tachometer 13
An electronic component comprising a drive circuit for supplying a predetermined drive current to the coil in each of the movements 17 and 19 of
It is mounted on each of the wiring boards 11 and 15, respectively. Further, electronic components constituting a drive circuit of the distance integrator 9 are also mounted on the wiring board 11 of the speedometer unit 3.

On the other hand, apart from such a combination meter, a so-called reminder function using a buzzer such as an alarm for forgetting to remove a key and an alarm for forgetting to turn off a light has conventionally been mounted in a vehicle as a single unit or a composite reminder relay. . FIG. 15 is a system wiring diagram showing various inputs and various outputs of the reminder relay and the combination meter. That is, this combination meter includes an IGN, a + BATT power supply, a GN
D, tail (TAIL) signal, half door (DOOR) signal, shift position reverse (R) signal, seat belt buckle signal, SP (speed), TA (octopus),
It is connected to each signal line such as a speed 4P, a fuel signal, and a balance signal. On the other hand, the output of this combination meter is the speedometer SP and the tachometer T
Instruct A, fuel gauge, and use a light and a buzzer to perform half-door awning, A / T-R awning,
Seat belt awning was performed, and odd / trip indication was performed using the liquid crystal display device of the distance integrator.

On the other hand, on the reminder relay side, IGN, + BATT power supply, GND, tail signal, driver door (DR-DOOR) signal, half door signal,
A seat belt buckle signal is input, and as a reminder function, the user forgets to remove the key, forgets to turn off the light, and performs various alarms and key illumination of the seat belt. Therefore, as can be seen from the figure, the reminder relay unit has a buzzer for alarm, while the combination meter has
Many have a / T reverse warning buzzer or the like. As a result, a plurality of buzzers are provided in one vehicle, and the device is wasted. Also, an IGN, + BATT is provided between the wiring laid on the indicator section of the meter and the signal line used for the reminder function.
There were many common wirings such as power supply, GND, tail signal, half door signal, seat belt buckle signal and so on.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost of the vehicle system as a whole by sharing a device that can share a drive circuit, an alarm buzzer, and the like by technically devising it. The aim is to reduce it.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle combination as defined in claim 1.
Is an instruction to indicate the measurement amount such as the speed of the car.
Vehicle equipped with an instrument and a display device for displaying various alarms
Combination meter for calculating the measured quantity
The operation control unit that controls the operation of the indicating instrument
Based on the signal from the detection switch provided in each part,
Sounds the sounding means provided on the combination meter
Combination for automobiles with added alarm judgment unit
In the meter, the arithmetic control unit is configured to output a plurality of alarms simultaneously.
When the time occurs, the alarm output by the sounding means is synchronized.
After shifting the phase, the information is synthesized and output.
And features. Further, the invention described in claim 2 is
Item 2. The combination meter according to Item 1, wherein the calculation
There are two or more indicating instruments driven by the control unit
And Further, the invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim
3. The combination meter according to 1 or 2, wherein
Indicating instruments driven by the arithmetic and control unit
It is characterized by being a distance integrator. And
The invention according to claim 4 provides the combination according to claim 3.
In the meter, the arithmetic control unit is configured to control the distance integrator
That the reset switch of the trip meter in the
Is detected, the distance displayed on the display is
And reset the sounding means for a short time.
It is characterized by The invention according to claim 5
Is the combination meter according to claim 3,
The arithmetic control unit is configured to output a signal based on a signal from the detection switch.
To sound the sounding means and change the type of alarm.
Displaying the character or symbol to be displayed on the digital display
It is characterized by. Further, according to the invention of claim 6,
For example, in the combination meter according to claim 5,
The arithmetic control unit displays the distance on the digital display.
When displaying the characters / symbols while
Characters and symbols are displayed only during the interval
ing. According to the invention described in claim 7, the claim
In combination the meter 3, wherein said operation system
The control unit stores the integrated distance value in the nonvolatile storage unit.
And the alarm determination unit stores the alarm in the nonvolatile storage unit.
The alarm is determined based on the setting information
ing. According to the invention of claim 8, according to claim 5,
The combination meter according to claim 1, wherein
When the unit stores the integrated distance value in the nonvolatile storage unit,
In both cases, the display conditions of the characters and symbols are stored in the non-volatile memory.
To make decisions based on the settings stored in the means.
Features.

[0007]

As described above, an alarm judging unit for sounding a sounding means provided in a combination meter based on a signal from a detection switch provided in each part of an automobile is added to the arithmetic control unit , and the total number of parts can be reduced. Reduction and cost reduction
When a plurality of alarms occur simultaneously,
After synchronizing the alarm output by means and shifting the phase,
Since the information is synthesized and output, multiple
The alarm content can be known with one buzzer. Also,
When it is detected that the reset switch of the trip meter in the distance integrator has been pressed, the distance displayed on the display is reset, and the sounding means is caused to sound for a short period of time. Thus, the user can recognize that the switch has been reliably pressed, thereby improving usability.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In a conventional combination meter, each of the speedometer, tachometer, and distance accumulator has its own electronic component with a drive circuit, so the number of electronic components tends to increase, and a space-saving design is required. Since it was difficult to perform this operation, electronic components equipped with a drive circuit for driving the distance integrator were mounted on the wiring board together with the distance integrator, and were electrically connected to the main wiring board fixed to the meter case. A drive circuit for driving a speedometer, a tachometer, etc., which is fixed to the meter case in a state of being stored, is stored in the electronic component, and the electronic component and the wiring board on which the distance integrator is mounted are stored in a single case. However, a configuration in which this single case is detachably provided to the meter case has been considered. Here, a new type of combination meter that is such a combination meter common to the drive circuits is hereinafter referred to as an odometer module. In the embodiment of the present invention, the one applied to this odometer module will be described in detail, but of course, the present invention is not limited to this for the purpose of the present invention.
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to an individual drive circuit mounted on a combination meter having a functional unit as in the related art.

First, the odometer module will be described. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of an odometer module G including a distance integrator unit (that is, an odometer). The flexible printed wiring board 25 as the main wiring board is fixed to a combination meter case (E in FIG. 2). A distance provided with a speedometer 27 for displaying the speed of the vehicle, a tachometer 29 for displaying the number of revolutions of an engine mounted on the vehicle, and a distance accumulator display meter 31 for displaying the running distance of the vehicle on a liquid crystal display or an LCD. The integrator units 33 are fixed to the meter case while being electrically connected to the flexible printed wiring board 25, respectively. The speedometer 27 and the tachometer 29 constitute an operation state indicator, and have analog hands having hands 39 and 41 that rotate in conjunction with magnet rotors in cross-coil movements 35 and 37, similarly to the conventional example. Meter. The distance integrator unit 33 has a configuration in which a hard wiring board 45 on which the distance integrator indicator 31 is mounted is attached to a single case 43 with screws. The wiring board 45 includes a driving circuit for driving the electronic distance integrator 31, a collective driving IC 47 for three meters in which driving circuits for the speedometer 27 and the tachometer 29 are stored, and a nonvolatile memory IC.
49 are mounted as electronic components. In this case, the non-volatile memory IC 49 is an EEPROM, and records two types of mileage integrated values, that is, the mileage integrated value as a distance integrator and the mileage integrated value as a trip meter.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit centering on the collective drive IC 47. Batch drive IC
Reference numeral 47 denotes a microcomputer including a one-chip IC. The one-chip IC 47 includes a CPU 51 as a main drive circuit and an oscillation circuit 53 for the CPU 51.
A driver 55 for driving an electronic distance integration display device (LCD) 31; and a speedometer PWM driver 5 including a pulse width modulation circuit for driving a movement 35 of the speedometer 27.
7, a tachometer PWM driver 59 provided with a pulse width modulation circuit for driving the movement 37 of the tachometer 29, and a distance signal, a speed signal, and a rotation signal from various sensors are inputted, and the CPU 51 can handle these signals. An input interface 61 for converting the signal into a signal. When a signal corresponding to each of a traveling distance signal, a vehicle speed signal, and a rotation speed signal is input to the CPU from an input interface 61 according to a program stored in a built-in ROM, the CPU 51 serving as a main driving circuit, A drive signal is output to the speedometer PWM driver 57 and the speedometer PWM driver 59 to drive the electronic distance integration display device 31, the speedometer 27, and the speedometer 29, respectively. As described above, since the odometer module has one common drive circuit for each instrument, the number of electronic components can be reduced as compared to the earlier combination meter which required an electronic component having a drive circuit for each instrument. This allows space-saving design in the meter.

In order to provide the drive circuit of the odometer module thus configured with the reminder function according to the present invention, as described above with reference to FIG. 15, the input ports of the drive circuit of the odometer module are common to the reminder. Most of the signals come from here, and some signals unique to the reminder (key mounting signal and driver's door signal, etc.) are taken in, and the desired reminder information is output by combining these input signals. A program may be assembled and stored in the non-volatile memory NVM so that the CPU makes a determination. For example, FIG. 19 shows the principle of sounding a buzzer using the non-volatile memory. In FIG. 19, (A) shows the format of the non-volatile memory, and (B) shows the format stored in the non-volatile memory. FIG. In the figure, addresses 0 to N-1 are used for the distance data area, and each data is composed of, for example, 16 bits. Then, 16 bits at the address N are used for the buzzer setting area. Indicates the buzzer area (B)
In the figure, two bits form one piece of information from the lower bit to the upper bit.
For example, the buzzer frequency of the forgotten key information is set by two bits, the 0th bit and the 1st bit. That is, if 00 (the upper bit is on the left and the lower bit is on the right, the same applies hereinafter), the buzzer does not sound, and the buzzer 800H at 01
sound at z, buzzer at 10 sound at 2kHz, 11
And the buzzer sounds at 3 kHz. The next two bits, that is, the second bit and the third bit, are used to set the buzzer frequency of the write-erasure forgetting information. That is,
If it is 00, the buzzer will not sound. Buzzer 800 Hz at 01
Make it sound. At 10 the buzzer sounds at 2 kHz. 1
At 1, the buzzer sounds at 3 kHz. Becomes Similarly, using the fourth and fifth bits, which are the next two bits, the seat belt is not attached, and the sixth bit, which is the next two bits.
The buzzer frequency of the A / T reverse information is set using the bit and the seventh bit. Next, the buzzer intermittent period of the forgotten key information is set using two bits, the eighth bit and the ninth bit. That is, if 00, the output is prohibited, and if 01, the buzzer sounds at 0.7 second cycle and 1
A buzzer is sounded continuously at a period of 1.2 seconds at 0 and continuously at 11. Thereafter, similarly, the next two bits are used to set the buzzer intermittent period of the information for forgetting to write off, and the next two bits are used to set the buzzer intermittent period of the seat belt non-wearing information. The 14th bit is not used, and the 1st bit is
Five bits are used for horizontal even parity. Therefore, an example of a circuit of the odometer module according to the present invention thus configured will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the odometer module is represented by a portion surrounded by a solid line. That is, in the odometer module, various driver circuits and a non-volatile memory (NVM) are provided in addition to a CPU for performing calculation and control for various instruments, and a rotation speed signal and a speed signal are provided around the odometer module. Each sensor to be detected, a tachometer as an indicating instrument for outputting an output from the odometer module, a speedometer, and a distance indicator are provided. A buzzer which receives signals such as a key, a light, a driver's door, a seat belt buckle, a shift position reverse as a signal of various switches for a reminder, and is blown at the time of an alarm is provided. The CPU
The rotation speed is calculated from the rotation speed signal, the speed is calculated from the speed signal, and the respective results are sent to the driver circuit. The running distance is calculated, display control for the distance display is performed, and the result is sent to the driver circuit. Further, the CPU for the reminder judges the contents of the reminder from the signals of the various switches for the reminder, performs control to blow the buzzer, and exchanges data with the nonvolatile memory.
The CPU also determines whether to switch the odd / trip switch and trip reset switch. The details of these controls will be described later in detail.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the entire odometer module in which a flexible printed wiring board 25 (here, corresponding to a printed circuit board F) including the odometer G of FIG. The meter case E at a portion facing the conductive portion and the valve mounting portion of the flexible printed wiring board F includes:
A rectangular through hole into which the odometer module G is inserted is formed. The flexible printed wiring board F is fixed to the back surface of the meter case E by screws in a state where the conductive part of the flexible printed wiring board F and the valve mounting part are aligned with the through holes. The lower end and both ends of the conductive portion and the valve mounting portion of the flexible printed wiring board F are separated from the main body of the flexible printed wiring board F, and only the upper end is connected to the main body of the flexible printed wiring board F. In the state of being. For this reason, when attaching the odometer module G to the meter case, the odometer module G inserts the conductive portion and the valve attachment portion of the flexible printed wiring board F into the through hole while pushing back the screw, using the attachment flange of the odometer module G. Fix with. In this state, the conductive portion is located on the upper surface of the odometer module G and contacts the contact pin, while the valve mounting portion is pulled rearward to be positioned behind the odometer module G and aligned with the insertion hole of the rear case. On the surface of the meter case opposite to the flexible printed wiring board F, pointer instruments C
Is arranged. That is, each of the cross-coil type movement assemblies D of the speedometer SP, the tachometer TA, and the fuel gauge FU and the thermometer TE are fixed with screws from the rear side of the flexible printed wiring board F, respectively.
In this case, by using a conductive screw, the conductive portion connected to the coil of each movement and the conductive portion on the flexible printed wiring board F side can be electrically connected. These pointer instruments C are of a type in which a mechanical pointer is vibrated by an electric coil, and include a speedometer SP and a tachometer TA which are wide-angle meters, and a fuel gauge FU and a thermometer TE which are narrow-angle meters. . For example, the speedometer SP uses a cross-coil movement, uses the output signal of a rotation sensor that outputs 4 pulses per axle rotation as a speed input signal, calculates the speed from the pulse cycle, and applies a current corresponding to the speed to both coils. By doing, the guideline is set to, for example, 0 km / h
It shakes up to 180 km / h. A tachometer is a meter similar to a speedometer in principle. A dial B is mounted on the front side of the meter case E, and an aperture matching the dial is formed in the dial B, and an aperture matching the display surface of the electronic distance integrating display device is formed. . A front glass A is further attached to the front side of the facing B. A circular through hole is formed in the facing B and the front glass A, and the switch knob G2 of the odometer module G is inserted into the through hole and protrudes forward of the front glass.

On the other hand, the odometer display device G1 is provided with a display such as a liquid crystal or LCD comprising six segment elements of the character "date" as shown in FIG. Further, instead of this, for example, as shown in FIG. 3- (1), a display part such as a number consisting of five 7-segment elements in the form of "day" and one 8-segment element with a decimal point, and a "TRIP" character in the upper left If it is composed of a character display section having a lower left "ODO" character, it is possible to identify whether the display number at that time is a trip display or an odd display, which is more convenient for the user. Therefore, for example, in the case of the odd display, as shown in FIG. 3- (2), "ODO" is displayed at the lower left and the total mileage is a six-digit number, for example, 123.
456, and in the case of a trip display, FIG.
As shown in (3) and FIG. 3- (4), "TRIP" is displayed at the upper left and displayed with six digits, and a decimal point is used as necessary. In the case of the single trip display, the display is as shown in FIG. 3- (3), and in the case of the twin trip display, as shown in FIG. After that, it is clear that 1234 is displayed.

Incidentally, such a liquid crystal display device having a seven-segment element in the form of "day" is an example, and a liquid crystal display device such as a nine-segment element or an alphanumeric (14-segment) element may be used instead. Fluorescent display tube, plasma display, LED instead of liquid crystal display
All display elements capable of isoelectric display switching can be used. Particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous to use a certain number of 7-segment elements in the form of "date" instead of a 9-segment element or an alphanumeric element so that a specific alphabet can be displayed. This is described in more detail in paragraph [0027] below.

The odometer module G has the above-mentioned switch knob G2 for switching between the above-mentioned "TRIP" display and "ODO" display.
OD for single trip display every time you press 2 deep
The display switches from O to TRIP to ODO, and in the case of a twin trip display, the display switches from ODO to TRIP1 to TRIP2 to ODO. For resetting the trip, a trip reset switch may be provided in addition to the changeover switch as in the related art, and the reset switch may be pressed. However, as shown in FIG. 14, one switch has both functions. It is more convenient for operation. That is, in FIG. 14, whether the operation is the od / trip switching operation or the trip reset operation is distinguished based on the time from when the switch is turned on to when it is turned off, that is, the length of time the switch is pressed. In this embodiment of the odometer module, the reference of the pressing time of the switch knob G2 is 1 second.
The odd / trip switching operation illustrated in (1) is performed, and if the switch is pressed for one second or longer, the trip reset operation is determined as illustrated in (2) of FIG.

The odometer module G also has a T-belt awning function.
m (or MILE) can be set, and the preset is +1 to +200,000 Km (or MI
LE) can be set in steps of 10,000 km (or MILE). An alarm is signaled to the external bulb.

In the odometer module with a reminder function configured in this way according to the present invention, for example, of various reminder functions, an alarm operation for forgetting to remove a key, an alarm operation for forgetting to turn off a light, an alarm operation for a seat belt, an A / T The reverse warning or the like can be realized as shown in FIG. 1) Forgetting key removal alarm: The following functions are performed by using a driver door signal and a key attachment signal in addition to the IGN, Batt, and GND signals already coming to the odometer module. 2) Alarm to turn off the light: In addition to the above signals already coming to the odometer module, the following functions are performed by using a driver door (open) signal, a key attachment signal, and a tail signal. 3) Seat belt alarm: The following functions are performed according to the seat belt buckle signal coming to the meter indicator. 4) A / T reverse alarm: The following functions according to the shift position reverse signal coming to the meter indicator.

As shown in FIG. 19, the buzzer sounds at a frequency of 2 kHz (buzzer frequency setting 2).
Bit signal: 10) and continuous (buzzer intermittent cycle setting 2 bit signal: 11), and other reminder alarms are frequency 2K
Hz (buzzer frequency setting 2-bit signal: 10), cycle is 1.2 seconds (buzzer intermittent cycle setting 2-bit signal: 10),
By changing the cycle to a cycle of 0.7 seconds (buzzer intermittent cycle setting 2-bit signal: 01), it is possible to identify which reminder the reminder is. Further, the frequency of 2 KHz is not fixed, and a higher frequency of 3 KHz (buzzer frequency setting 2-bit signal: 11) or a lower frequency of 80 KHz is used.
The frequency may be changed, such as 0 Hz (buzzer frequency setting 2-bit signal: 01). Further, the volume of the sound may be changed by changing the amplitude, or the amplitude may be changed over time to attenuate the sound. Further, since there are many reminder functions in addition to the above four kinds of reminder functions, if the alarm sound of the reminder function is increased as described above, changing the combination of the period, frequency, and amplitude will result in only hearing. It is possible to identify which reminder from among many reminder alarms.

Incidentally, other reminder functions of the above four kinds of reminder functions include the following. 5) Overspeed alert: Activates by detecting the speed signal already coming to the odometer module. 6) Over-revo alarm: Activates by detecting the tachometer signal already coming to the odometer module. 7) Low fuel alarm: works by adding fuel input and awning valve output. The buzzer setting of these three pieces of reminder information can be performed using a nonvolatile memory in the same manner as described at the address N in FIG. That is, in the same figure, for example, each of the buzzer frequencies for the overspeed alarm, the over-revo alarm, and the low-fuel alarm is set by a 2-bit signal using two bits out of the 16 bits at the address N + 1. Output prohibited, 800 for 01, 2 kHz for 10, 11
At this time, a 3 kHz buzzer is sounded, and an appropriate one is made to correspond to each alarm. Similarly, the buzzer intermittent period is set with a 2-bit signal, and instead of 11 continuous sounds with the 2-bit signal, a 0.7-second intermittent sound of 01 and a 1.2-second intermittent sound of 10 are appropriately selected. . Also, the alarm speed value of the overspeed alarm. The alarm rotation value of the over-revo alarm and the remaining alarm value of the low fuel alarm are also set and recorded in the nonvolatile memory. As described above, seven examples have been given as those that can perform the reminder function. However, in order to properly use the non-volatile memory for each vehicle type and grade, the same module can be used by utilizing the non-volatile memory in the same manner as shown in FIG. It is possible to respond to various variations.

Incidentally, in the various reminder functions, a plurality of the reminder functions may be operated at the same time. For example, there are an overspeed alarm and a low fuel alarm, a simultaneous multiple reminder alarm such as an A / T reverse alarm and a seat belt alarm, etc. In this case, in the past, priorities were assigned to the reminder alarms, and when two or more reminder alarms occurred at the same time, a method of outputting a reminder alarm having a higher priority with a buzzer was adopted. There were the following disadvantages.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional example 1 of this simultaneous alarm measure. High priority alarm 1 (frequency A) and low priority alarm 2 (frequency B, where A ≠
When B) occurs simultaneously, the alarm output of the reminder alarm 1 having a higher priority is issued. However, in this method, only the high-priority reminder alarm is output as an alarm, so if the high-priority reminder alarm is output as an alarm, the alarm is the high-priority reminder alarm itself, or at the same time. There was no way for the user to know if one or more reminder alerts of lower priority were also generated.

Therefore, as a conventional example 2 of the conventional simultaneous alarm measure, as shown in FIG. 6, when a reminder alarm is generated at the same time, a dedicated sound is separately prepared, and the alarm 1 and the alarm 2 are generated at the same time. In some cases, an alarm is output with this different sound. However, this method has a problem that although it is known that two or more reminder alarms have been generated at the same time, the user cannot know which type of reminder alarm has been generated.

Therefore, the first countermeasure against simultaneous alarms according to the present invention is
The embodiment is applicable to a reminder having a plurality of alarms having different frequencies, and simultaneously synchronizes an output to be alarmed when a reminder alarm occurs, shifts a phase, and synthesizes and outputs an alarm. Things. This is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, alarm 1 (frequency A) is set for certain reminder information, and alarm 2 (frequency B, A ≠ B) is set for another reminder information. Since the frequency of each alarm is different, it is possible to identify which reminder the alarm is from just by listening. By the way, alarm 1
According to the present invention, the alarm 2 is output immediately after the output of the alarm 1 and the alarm 1 is output again immediately after that, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. It becomes.

Further, the second embodiment of the simultaneous alarm countermeasure according to the present invention is applicable to a reminder having a plurality of alarms having the same frequency and different only in the intermittent period as shown in FIG. For example, if there is an alarm 1 (frequency A) and an alarm 2 (frequency A, except for the intermittent period), the alarm 1
Alerts "two-to-two" at a certain frequency and alerts 2
Will be alerted at the same frequency as "ton-ton-ton-ton". The processing for the output is the same as that of the first embodiment.
After the phase is shifted, the alarm is synthesized and output. Therefore, when the alarm 1 and the alarm 2 are simultaneously generated, the alarm 2 is output immediately after the output of the alarm 1, and the alarm 1 is output again immediately after that, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. In the previous example, the warning is issued as "two-ton-two-ton-ton", so that it is possible to know what kind of reminder alarm is occurring plurally. The difference between the first embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the case of the first embodiment, the user is required to have the ability to discriminate the difference in frequency (for example, the ability to distinguish between "do" and "so").
In the case of the second embodiment, it is simply that anybody can identify the sound because it is only a distinction between continuous sound and discontinuous sound. In any case, according to the method shown in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is possible to determine how many alarms are generated at the same time and what kind of reminder alarms are impossible by a single method. The user can be made aware only by the buzzer alarm.

As described above, various reminder alarms are issued by the buzzer sounding, and the content of the reminder alarm can be distinguished by the buzzer sounding cycle, frequency, and the like. The warning effect is further increased when the display of the above is also used. In particular, the use of the alarm by the display device is more effective for an alarm or the like in a loud place. Conventionally, an alarm using such a display device is also used, and the display method is as follows, as shown in FIG. 9, from a reminder controller to a buzzer BZ1,
The alarm signal is output to the BZ2 and at the same time, a display such as "light is on" is displayed on a dedicated information display device. However, such a conventional display method is,
In addition to the odometer liquid crystal display device, a separate display device was required, and a mounting place for the display device was required. In addition, the display device itself was expensive compared to the odometer liquid crystal display device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to display various reminder alarm contents on a display device dedicated to od / trip of the odometer module with a reminder function according to the present invention. FIG. 10 shows an odd / trip-only display device comprising five 7-segment elements and one 8-segment element with a decimal point as described above with reference to FIG. 9 is an example of a display device. That is, the center of the center of the horizontal bar segment in the middle of the “date” character of the second (a) and fifth (b) elements from the left among the six 7-segment elements having the “date” character shape in FIG. Vertical segments are added to the top and bottom, respectively, thereby enabling the display of a "T" character. Of the six "day" character-shaped elements in FIG. One segment of the middle bar of the "day" character is divided into two segments, and the "date" of the fourth element (d) from the left among the six "day" character-shaped elements in FIG. , And add a diagonal segment above and below the middle horizontal bar segment (however, the segments added above are sloping to the right and the segments below are sloping to the lower right), thereby forming a "K" character. Can be displayed, and one of the six “date” character-shaped elements shown in FIG. Add the right upward slanting segment on the segment of the horizontal bar in the middle of the "day" character to the right of the element (e), thereby enabling the display of the "Y" shape. As described above, by slightly adding a segment to the conventional odd / trip dedicated display device, "LIGHT"
(Forgot to turn off the light) "BELT" (without seat belt) "AT-R" (shift position reverse)
Display by four kinds of alphabets such as "KEY" (forgot key) can be performed.

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of a display device according to the present invention in which a display device dedicated to odd / trip is improved according to the present invention. In the same figure, the third (a) and the fifth from the left among the six 7-segment elements of the character “date” in FIG.
The element (b) is an alphanumeric element. As a result, "LIGHT" as in FIG.
(Forgot to turn off the light) "BELT" (without seat belt) "AT-R" (shift position reverse)
Four types of display of "KEY" (forgot to remove the key) can be made as shown in the figure. In this way, when the alphanumeric element is used, the display of "KEY" can be displayed closer to the original "Y" character than in the case of FIG.

The usage of this display device is as follows. Normally, the odometer / trip meter indicates the traveling distance according to the number of pulses of the speed signal. But here, key installation, light ON, driver's seat (driver) door OP
When the occurrence of various reminder alarms is detected based on signal conditions such as EN, seat belt wearing, shift "R", etc., the buzzer sounds to alert the occurrence of the alarm, and clears the od or trip display that had been displayed until then. Using the odd / trip display unit to display the contents of the generated alarm, use the "LIGHT" (forget to turn off the light), "BELT" (without seat belt), "AT-R" (shift position reverse), "KEY""" (Forgot to remove the key). Further, when a plurality of reminder informations simultaneously generate an alarm, the display contents may be sequentially switched in time as in the case of the above-mentioned alarm sound. In this case, synchronizing with the contents of the above-mentioned alarm sound is more advantageous because the contents of the alarm and the contents of the display match. In this way, an expensive display device such as a conventional display method is not separately required besides the odometer liquid crystal display device, and an installation place for the device is not required. The objects of the present invention such as miniaturization and cost reduction are realized more effectively.

In the two examples of the present invention, a special segment is used. However, if all six digits of the odometer / trip meter are constituted by alphanumeric elements, or one character is constituted by a dot matrix of 5 × 7 or more, all kinds of reminder alarms are provided. It goes without saying that it is possible to deal with

In the above paragraph [0015], it has been described in FIG. 14 that only one trip reset switch is used to discriminate between the odd / trip switching operation and the trip reset operation depending on the length of the pressing time. In another embodiment of the present invention, a buzzer provided in the odometer module is used to generate a trip reset and an operation sound of the odometer / trip changeover switch, thereby recognizing the user that the switch has been securely pressed. I try to make it. The flowchart is shown in FIG. In the figure, it is determined whether the trip reset operation or the odd / trip switching operation is performed based on whether the trip reset switch is pressed for 1 second or more. For example, when the trip reset operation is selected, the display is reset (that is, the trip is set to 000.0 km), and then the buzzer is sounded twice as "Pi-Pi-". In the latter case, the buzzer is sounded. Is sounded once for a few seconds with a "Pi-" to notify the completion of the operation by hearing. Conventionally, the switch itself has a click mechanism to give the user a sense of pressing. However, in this case, even if the switch itself does not have a complicated and expensive click mechanism, it is possible to use the buzzer provided in the odometer module G. This is advantageous because it can give a click feeling. Further, since the buzzer sounds after the operation is completed, the reset operation is surely completed when the buzzer sounds. By configuring the odd / trip changeover switch in the same manner, it is possible to recognize from the buzzer sound that the display has been reliably switched between the odd and the trip, so the user needs to check the display device each time. There is no.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the whole process from the buzzer warning and display of the various reminder functions. In the figure, when the flow starts, first,
Going to see if “IGN is off”, NO (that is, “IGN
If “N is ON”), “R input present” is heard. Y
If it is ES (that is, “IGN is off”), then it is checked whether the driver's seat door is open. If "driver's door is open" is NO (i.e., "driver's door is closed"), there is no particular problem, so the process returns to the beginning of the loop and again checks whether "IGN is off". If "driver's seat door is open" is YES (that is, "driver's door is open"), the user goes to "Key IN?", And if YES, it means "forget key removal". "Forgot to remove the key"
The buzzer is blown with the oscillation sound of the above-described cycle, frequency, and amplitude, and “KE” in FIG. 10 or FIG.
"Y" is displayed. Then, "TAIL is ON"
If this is NO (that is, "TAIL is off"), there is no problem, so return to the beginning of the loop and look again at the first "IGN is off". Also, YES
In this case, it means "forget to turn off the light", so that the buzzer sounds with the oscillation sound of the cycle, frequency and amplitude indicating the "forget to turn off the light", and the "LIGHT" display of FIG. 10 or FIG. Do. On the other hand, "Key IN?"
If the answer is NO, it is not "forgot key removal", so the flow for forgetting to remove key is jumped to see if "TAIL is ON". The subsequent flow is as described above. Now, returning to the beginning of the flow, if “IGN is off” is NO,
First, if "R input is present" is heard, and if YES, a buzzer is sounded with an oscillating sound having the period, frequency, and amplitude representing the above-mentioned "AT-R", and "AT-R" in FIG. 10 or FIG.
R "display. Then," Do you wear a seat belt? "
That is, it is checked whether the seat belt buckle is on. If this is YES, there is no particular problem, so the process jumps to the next speed calculation control processing and below. However, if NO, it means "no belt" and the buzzer sounds with the oscillation sound of the cycle, frequency and amplitude indicating the "no belt" and "BELT" display of FIG. 10 or 11 is performed. . This display period is set to 6 seconds. That is, the timer asks for 6 seconds, and if it is within 6 seconds, the flow returns to "seat belt wearing", repeats the buzzer and BELT display again, and the timer reaches 6 seconds. At this point, the process proceeds to the next speed calculation control process, rotation speed calculation control process, odd distance / trip distance calculation control process, and maintenance alarm process, and returns to “IGN OFF” immediately after the start of the flow. FIG. 20 (A)
It is a flow which shows a change of a display cancellation condition. The change of the display release condition includes a display time of the seat belt warning. The display time for a car destined for the United States is 6 seconds. For example, a display time of 3 seconds for a car destined for the domestic market is performed as follows according to the flow shown in FIG. First, the belt mode is set, and after "ignition ON", the characters "BELT" are displayed in a blinking manner with the "belt setting mode" set to "YES". Then, when "switch on" is set, "0" is blinked next. The blinking of "0" means that the alarm display time is zero, that is, cancels the alarm display, and the blinking means that the alarm display is not set. Therefore, when the switch is turned on again to pass here, "1" is displayed blinking next. "2" flashes at the next switch on, and "3" when the switch is turned on.
Is displayed blinking. Therefore, the time is set to 3 seconds. Here, if the switch is kept pressed for 2 seconds or more, the time is set. If 3 seconds are set, the blinking display “3” changes to “3” which is continuously lit, indicating that fact. The setting is completed as described above, and the "belt setting mode" is released by "ignition off". If 6 seconds has been initially set, "6" is displayed blinking first.
Then, switch on sequentially, then 6 → 0 → 1 → 2 → 3
The blinking display changes from 4 to 4... When the number of the desired set display time has arrived, the switch is turned on for 2 seconds or more, and the setting is set. For the set time of 3 seconds, 3 is stored in the data area of the nonvolatile memory as shown in FIG. This number is read out by the CPU during the flow of “belt not worn” and set to the set time of the timer.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above as applied to the drive circuit of the odometer module, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this in view of the object of the present invention. For example, one of the CPUs (not shown) which is a driving circuit mounted on the wiring boards 11 and 15 of each instrument in the combination meter of FIG. 16 may have a reminder function. By doing so, the circuit components can be shared, and various reminder alarms can be performed with a buzzer, a display device, or the like, which is the same as in the related art, thereby reducing the cost of the vehicle system.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An alarm judgment unit that sounds the sounding means provided in the combination meter based on the signal from the detection switch provided in each part of the vehicle is added to the arithmetic and control unit, so that the total number of parts and cost can be reduced. It is planned. Further, when a plurality of alarms are simultaneously generated, the alarm output by the sounding means is synchronized, the phase is shifted, and then the information is combined and output. You can know by the buzzer. Further, upon detecting that the reset switch of the trip meter in the distance integrator is pressed, the distance displayed on the display is reset, and the sounding means is sounded for a short period of time. Therefore, the user can recognize that the switch has been reliably pressed, and the usability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram in an odometer module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the odometer module used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a layout and various displays of a liquid crystal display device in the odometer module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an operation diagram of various reminder functions.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional example 1 of a simultaneous reminder alarm measure.

FIG. 6 is a second conventional example of a simultaneous reminder alarm measure.

FIG. 7 shows a first embodiment of a countermeasure for simultaneous reminder alarm according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the simultaneous reminder alarm measure according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional reminder display device when both a buzzer alarm and a reminder display are used.

FIG. 10 is a first embodiment of the present invention of an odometer module display device capable of displaying a reminder.

FIG. 11 is a second embodiment of the present invention of an odometer module display device capable of displaying a reminder.

FIG. 12 is an operation flow of an embodiment according to the present invention of buzzer sounding when a switch is pressed.

FIG. 13 is an overall flowchart of the present invention up to a buzzer alarm and display of various reminder functions.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of switching of operation depending on the length of time the trip reset switch is pressed.

FIG. 15 is a system wiring diagram of a conventional reminder relay and combination meter.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a combination meter including a drive circuit unique to each meter.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of the odometer module.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit centering on the collective drive IC 47;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a buzzer setting area in a memory.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for changing display cancellation conditions.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, front glass B, facing C, pointer instruments D, movement assembly E, combination case F, printed circuit board G, odometer module G1, odometer display device G2, switch knob G3, odometer module controller SP, speedometer TA, tachometer FU, fuel gauge TE, balance gauge B, buzzer X, valve NVM, non-volatile memory 1, meter case 3, speedometer unit 5, tachometer unit 7, distance integrator 15, wiring board 21/23, hands 17/19, Cross-coil movement 25, main wiring board 27, speedometer 29, tachometer 31, distance totalizer display 33, distance totalizer unit 35/37, movement 39/41, pointer 43, case 45, wiring board 47, collectively Driving IC 4 , Non-volatile memory IC 53, the oscillation circuit 55, 57, 59, driver

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-57-90106 (JP, A) JP-A-2-227611 (JP, A) JP-A-56-16812 (JP, A) JP-A 61-90 97514 (JP, A) JP-A-59-128413 (JP, A) JP-A-63-75868 (JP, U) JP-A-58-62220 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) G01C 23/00 G01D 7/00 B60K 23/00

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A combination meter for an automobile, comprising: an indicating instrument for indicating a measured amount such as a speed of an automobile; and a display device for displaying various alarms, wherein the measured amount is calculated and driving of the indicating instrument is controlled. the arithmetic control unit which, on the basis of a signal from the detection switch provided in each part of an automobile, the automobile combination meter by adding a warning determination section for sounding a sounding means provided in the combination meter, the calculation control unit Means that when multiple alarms occur simultaneously,
Synchronize the alarm output by the sounding means and shift the phase.
And then combine and output the information.
Combination meter for moving vehicles. 2. The combination meter according to claim 1, wherein :
3. The combination meter for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the number of indicating instruments driven by the arithmetic and control unit is two or more. 3. A combination according to claim 1 or claim 2.
In the meter, the indicating instrument driven by the arithmetic and control unit is a distance integrator composed of a digital display. 4. The combination meter according to claim 3, wherein :
In the calculation control section, when detecting that the reset switch of the trip meter in the distance integrator has been pressed , the calculation control section resets the distance displayed on the display and sets the sounding means for a short time. Combination meter for automobiles characterized by ringing for a while. 5. The combination meter according to claim 3, wherein :
, Wherein the arithmetic and control unit causes the sounding means to sound based on a signal from the detection switch and causes a character / symbol indicating a type of an alarm to be displayed on the digital display. . 6. The combination meter according to claim 5, wherein :
5. The combination meter for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the arithmetic and control unit displays characters and symbols for a predetermined time when the characters and symbols are displayed when the distance is displayed on the digital display. 7. The combination meter according to claim 3, wherein :
, Wherein the arithmetic and control unit causes the nonvolatile storage means to store the integrated distance value, and the warning determination unit makes a warning determination based on the setting information stored in the nonvolatile storage means. Combination meter. 8. The combination meter according to claim 5, wherein :
In the arithmetic and control unit, characterized in that in conjunction with storing the accumulated distance value in a nonvolatile storage means, to determine based on the display condition of the characters and symbols in the setting value stored in the nonvolatile storage means Combination meter for automobiles.