JP3692726B2 - Indicator for vehicle automatic transmission - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an indicator for an automatic transmission of a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7B, this type of indicator is provided with both light-emitting diodes 2 and 3 on the bottom wall 1a in the casing 1, and the transmissive liquid crystal panel 4 and There is a configuration in which diffusion plates 5 are stacked and mounted.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the said indicator, the liquid crystal panel 4 is comprised by enclosing a liquid crystal between a pair of electrode substrates. On one electrode substrate of the liquid crystal panel, as shown in FIG. 7A, a transparent pattern electrode 4a (consisting of 14 segments) representing the shift position of the automatic transmission and a transparent pattern composed of characters "SHIFT" The electrode 4b is formed in a region corresponding to one character.
[0004]
And the liquid crystal panel 4 displays "SHIFT" by the pattern electrode 4b by applying a voltage between each said pattern electrode of one electrode substrate, and the other electrode substrate, and also automatically by the pattern electrode 4a. Characters P, N, R, D, 2, and L that respectively specify the parking range, neutral range, reverse range, drive range, second speed range, and low speed range of the transmission are displayed.
[0005]
However, normally, the parking range, neutral range, drive range, second speed range and low speed range are displayed in green, while the reverse range is displayed in orange.
For this reason, the light emission colors of the light emitting diodes 2 and 3 need to be green and orange, respectively. Along with this, both the light emitting diodes 2 and 3 become essential constituent elements for the indicator, which causes an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of light emitting diodes.
[0006]
In order to cope with such a situation, the present invention utilizes a color filter and devise the configuration of the electrode substrate of the liquid crystal panel, thereby enabling a vehicle capable of displaying two colors with a single light source. An object of the present invention is to provide an indicator for an automatic transmission.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In solving the above problems, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, the transmissive liquid crystal panel includes a first electrode portion formed so as to specify a reverse range of the automatic transmission of the vehicle, and the first electrode portion. And a second electrode portion formed of a plurality of electrode segments formed in a region corresponding to one character so as to selectively specify a plurality of shift ranges other than the reverse range adjacent to the one electrode portion.
[0008]
In addition, a single light source is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal panel and emits light so as to transmit the liquid crystal panel. Both color filters are provided in the liquid crystal panel corresponding to the first and second electrode portions, respectively, and these two color filters transmit light that passes through the first and second electrode portions when the liquid crystal panel is driven. Make colors different from each other.
[0009]
Thereby, with a single light source, the reverse range and other shift ranges can be displayed in different colors with the first and second electrode portions. As a result, the cost of this type of automatic transmission indicator can be reduced by reducing the number of light sources.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a vehicle display device to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the display device includes a transmissive liquid crystal panel P as a display panel, and the liquid crystal panel P constitutes a part of the instrument panel of the vehicle.
[0011]
The liquid crystal panel P is configured by enclosing a liquid crystal between a pair of transparent electrode substrates, and one of the pair of electrode substrates of the liquid crystal panel P (FIGS. 1, 2A) and FIG. 3 is formed with transparent pattern electrodes 10a to 10d representing display patterns for an automatic transmission indicator, a speedometer, a fuel gauge, and a clock of the vehicle.
[0012]
The pattern electrode 10a includes an electrode part 11 representing a reverse range of an automatic transmission, an electrode part 12 representing each range other than the reverse range, and an electrode part 13 representing a speed change operation separated from each other. (See FIGS. 2 and 3).
When a voltage is applied between the electrode unit 11 and the other electrode substrate, the electrode unit 11 has a contour portion of the letter “R” (representing the reverse range) located in the circle in the inner region of the circle. It is formed so that light can be transmitted through the region excluding.
[0013]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the electrode unit 12 has 14 electrode segments a to n having a parking range, a neutral range, a drive range, a second speed range, and a low speed range within a region corresponding to one character. It is divided and arrayed so that it can be identified.
In the present embodiment, as described above, since the electrode unit 11 is separated from the electrode unit 12, when the parking range, neutral range, drive range, second speed range or low speed range is displayed by the electrode unit 12, the voltage is displayed. The application or the stop of the application may be performed simultaneously on the four electrode segments a, c, e, and h, and may be performed simultaneously on the two electrode segments f and g.
[0014]
The electrode portion 13 is formed such that light is transmitted through the character “SHIFT” when a voltage is applied between the electrode portion and the other electrode substrate.
The indicator includes a casing 20, both color filters 30 and 40, a diffusion plate 50, and a lamp 60 in addition to the portion including the pattern electrode 10 a of the liquid crystal panel P (see FIG. 2).
[0015]
The casing 20 is fixed to the portion of the back surface of the liquid crystal panel P that faces the portion corresponding to the pattern electrode 10 a at the opening 21.
The lamp 60 is fitted into the bottom wall 61 of the casing 20, and the lamp 60 emits light toward the opening 21 of the casing 20. Instead of the lamp 60, various light sources such as a light emitting diode and a cold cathode tube may be employed.
[0016]
Both color filters 30 and 40 are adhered to the back surface of the liquid crystal panel P adjacent to each other in the opening 21 of the casing 20.
Here, as shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3, the color filter 30 is attached to a portion of the back surface of the liquid crystal panel P corresponding to the electrode portion 11, and the color filter 40 is the liquid crystal panel P. Are attached to portions corresponding to both electrode portions 12 and 13. The color filter 30 transmits only the orange light component, while the color filter 40 transmits only the green light component.
[0017]
In addition, each color filter 30 and 40 may be each printing layer formed by printing each paint which transmits orange and green on the back surface of the liquid crystal panel P.
The diffuser plate 50 is adhered to the back surfaces of both color filters 30 and 40 in the opening 21 of the casing 20, and the diffuser plate 50 diffuses light from the lamp 60 and both color filters 30 and 40. To enter.
[0018]
Next, drive circuit configurations of the liquid crystal panel P and the lamp 60 will be described with reference to FIG.
The lamp 60 is supplied with power from the battery B via the ignition switch IG of the vehicle and lights up and emits light. The shift switch SW detects a shift operation to any one of the parking range, neutral range, reverse range, drive range, second speed range, and low speed range of the automatic transmission.
[0019]
The drive circuit 70 is supplied with power from the battery B via the ignition switch IG, and applies a drive voltage between both electrode substrates of the liquid crystal panel P according to the detection range of the shift switch SW. In the present embodiment, in the pattern electrode 10a of the liquid crystal panel P, the electrode unit 13 is constantly applied with a drive voltage from the drive circuit 70 with the ignition switch IG turned on. The electrode unit 11 is applied with a drive voltage from the drive circuit 70 when the detection range of the shift switch SW is the reverse range.
[0020]
Further, when the detection range of the shift switch SW is any range other than the reverse range, a drive voltage is applied from the drive circuit 70 to each electrode segment a to n of the electrode unit 12 according to this detection range. In the electrode unit 12, the electrode segments a, c, e, and h are collectively connected to one output terminal of the drive circuit 70. Both electrode segments f and g are collectively connected to the other output terminal of the drive circuit 70.
[0021]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the ignition switch IG is turned on, the lamp 60 is turned on to emit light toward the diffusion plate 50. Then, the diffusion plate 50 diffuses the light from the lamp 60 and enters the color filters 30 and 40.
Next, the color filter 30 causes only the orange light component of the diffused light from the diffuser plate 50 to enter the liquid crystal panel P, and the color filter 40 applies only the green light component of the diffused light from the diffuser plate 50 to the liquid crystal panel. Incident to P.
[0022]
In such a state, when the automatic transmission is shifted to the reverse range, the shift to the reverse range is detected by the shift switch SW. Then, the drive circuit 70 applies a drive voltage between the electrode part 11 of the liquid crystal panel P and the other electrode substrate.
For this reason, the orange light component from the color filter 30 is transmitted through a region including the electrode portion 11 in the liquid crystal panel P. As a result, the liquid crystal panel P displays in orange indicating that it is the reverse range by the electrode unit 11 (see FIG. 6B).
[0023]
When the automatic transmission is shifted to a range other than the reverse range, a range other than the reverse range is detected by the shift switch SW. Then, the drive circuit 70 applies a drive voltage between the segment corresponding to the detection range of the shift switch SW among the electrode segments a to n of the electrode portion 12 of the liquid crystal panel P and the other electrode substrate.
[0024]
For this reason, the green light component of the color filter 40 is transmitted through the region of the liquid crystal panel P including the voltage application electrode segment. Thereby, the liquid crystal panel P displays that it is one of a parking range, a neutral range, a drive range, a second speed range, and a low speed range by the voltage application electrode segment (FIGS. 6A and 6C). (See (d), (e), (f)).
[0025]
As the ignition switch IG is turned on, the drive circuit 70 applies a drive voltage between the electrode portion 13 of the liquid crystal panel P and the other electrode substrate. For this reason, the green light component of the color filter 40 is transmitted through a region including the electrode part 13 in the liquid crystal panel P. Thus, the liquid crystal panel P displays the characters “SHIFT” while the ignition switch IG is turned on.
[0026]
As described above, in one electrode substrate of the liquid crystal panel P, the electrode portion 11 (representing a reverse range) is formed separately from the electrode portion 12 (representing a shift range other than the reverse range). The color filters 30 and 40 are provided corresponding to 11 and 12, respectively. Then, the light from the light source 60 is made incident on the electrode portions 11 and 12 as orange and green light components by the color filters 30 and 40, respectively.
[0027]
Accordingly, when the automatic transmission is in the reverse range, an orange light component is transmitted through the electrode portion 11, and when the automatic transmission is in a shift range other than the reverse range, a green light component is electroded according to this shift range. The corresponding segment of the part 12 is transmitted.
Therefore, with the single light source 60, a two-color display is possible in which the reverse range is displayed in orange and the other ranges are displayed in green.
[0028]
As a result, the number of light sources can be reduced to one, which helps to reduce the cost of this type of automatic transmission indicator.
Further, as described above, since the electrode portion 11 is formed separately from the electrode portion 12, the number of electrode segments of the electrode portion 12 is substantially reduced as compared with the conventional case when displaying a range other than the reverse range by the indicator. be able to.
[0029]
Specifically, when the range including the reverse range is displayed by 14 electrode segments a to n as in the prior art, the drive voltage is simultaneously applied to both electrode segments e and c or both electrode segments f and g. Is applied or stopped.
On the other hand, according to this embodiment, when displaying a range other than the reverse range, a drive voltage is applied to each electrode segment a, c, e, h or each electrode segment f, g at the same time. The application is stopped.
[0030]
Therefore, in the past, 12 electrode segments out of 14 were substantially driven. In the present embodiment, 10 electrode segments out of 14 may be substantially driven. Can be substantially reduced as compared with the prior art.
As a result, the electrical connection configuration between the output terminal of the drive circuit 70 and the liquid crystal panel P is further simplified.
[0031]
In carrying out the present invention, the transmitted colors of the color filters 30 and 40 are not limited to orange and green, but may be changed.
In implementing the present invention, both the color filters 30 and 40 may be provided on the surface of the liquid crystal panel P without being limited to the back surface of the liquid crystal panel P.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle display device to which the present invention is applied.
2A is a partial plan view showing a main part of one electrode substrate of the liquid crystal panel of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of an indicator in the display device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of one electrode substrate of FIG.
4 is an enlarged plan view of an electrode section 12 of FIG.
FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram for driving the liquid crystal panel and the lamp of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 6A to 6F show the display contents on the indicators of the liquid crystal panel when the automatic transmission is in the parking range, reverse range, neutral range, drive range, second speed range and low speed range, respectively. FIG.
7A is a plan view showing a configuration of an electrode portion in a liquid crystal panel of a conventional automatic transmission indicator, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the indicator.
[Explanation of symbols]
P ... Liquid crystal panel, 11, 12 ... Electrode part, 30, 40 ... Color filter,
60: Light source.

Claims (2)

A first electrode portion (11) formed to specify a reverse range of an automatic transmission of a vehicle, and a plurality of shift ranges other than the reverse range are selectively specified adjacent to the first electrode portion. A transmissive liquid crystal panel (P) having a second electrode portion (12) composed of a plurality of electrode segments formed in a region corresponding to a single character ;
A single light source (60) that is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal panel and emits light so as to transmit the liquid crystal panel;
Both color filters provided alongside the liquid crystal panel corresponding to the first and second electrode portions, respectively, and the color of light transmitted through the first and second electrode portions when the liquid crystal panel is driven. Both color filters (30, 40) for different colors ;
A shift switch (SW);
An automatic transmission indicator for a vehicle , comprising: a drive circuit (70) for applying a drive voltage to the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion corresponding to the detection range of the shift switch . 2. The vehicle automatic transmission indicator according to claim 1, wherein the two color filters are provided on a back surface of the liquid crystal panel.

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