Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Denso Corporation

Miki Kato

Kazuhiko Miyazaki

Kiyotaka Taguchi

Hidehiko Kawakami

Yukihide Shibata

Tomoyuki Miyagaki

Yoshinori Watanabe

Tsuneo Uchida

Makoto Inomata

Yukinori Tamano

Katsumi Kobayashi

Michiyuki Noba

Akihiro Watanabe

Hirokazu Shibata

Tetsuya Enokizaka

Katsuhiro Kumazawa

A display device for a vehicle includes a liquid crystal panel, a light source, and a controller. The liquid crystal panel includes a particular display pixel and a normal display pixel. The controller controls the ratio of the gradation value of the normal display pixel to a set gradation value of the normal display pixel as a gradation ratio of the normal display pixel. At the same time, it controls the ratio of the gradation value of the particular display pixel to a set gradation value of the particular display pixel as a gradation ratio of the particular display pixel. Further, the controller sets first and second modes as a control mode, the first mode in which the light source emits light, and the second mode in which the light source emits light with brightness lower than in the first mode. In the first mode, the controller sets the gradation ratio of the normal display pixel and the gradation ratio of the particular display pixel at a particular time to a maximum ratio. In the second mode, the controller executes a gradation processing to make the gradation ratio of the particular display pixel at a particular time higher than the gradation ratio of the normal display pixel.

Display device for vehicle

A display device for a vehicle includes a liquid crystal panel (), a light source (), and a controlling means (). The liquid crystal panel includes a particular display pixel () and a normal display pixel (). The controlling means controls the ratio of the gradation value of the normal display pixel to a set gradation value of the normal display pixel as a gradation ratio of the normal display pixel. At the same time, it controls the ratio of the gradation value of the particular display pixel to a set gradation value of the particular display pixel as a gradation ratio of the particular display pixel. Further, the controlling means sets first and second modes as a control mode, the first mode in which the light source emits light, and the second mode in which the light source emits light with brightness lower than in the first mode. In the first mode, the controlling means sets the gradation ratio of the normal display pixel and the gradation ratio of the particular display pixel at a particular time to a maximum ratio. In the second mode, the controlling means executes a gradation processing for making the gradation ratio of the particular display pixel at a particular time higher than the gradation ratio of the normal display pixel.

A display apparatus for use in a vehicle has a liquid crystal display panel, and the panel includes a first pixel area for displaying a meter image that represents vehicle condition values, and a second pixel area for displaying an outside image that calls attention of occupants as a warning image. Further, an input unit of the apparatus receives inputs of adjustment value from occupants of the vehicle for adjusting brightness of the meter image and the outside image. A main control unit and a drawing unit of the apparatus cooperatively serve as a controller of the apparatus by changing gradation ratio of the first and second pixel areas so that the gradation ratio of the second pixel area becomes greater than the gradation ratio of the first pixel area according to the input of the adjustment value.

Vehicle display apparatus

A display device for a vehicle has a display unit that has a meter display area and a navigation display area. The meter display area displays vehicle operation condition, and the navigation display area displays travel route guidance. When a display color changes in the travel route guidance in the navigation display area, color of the vehicle operation condition in the meter display area is also changed so that the color of the travel route guidance becomes more eye-catching than the vehicle operation condition.

Display device and method for vehicle

When an accessory switch of a vehicle is turned on, a TFT display device in an instrument panel is in a magnified display mode, where a navigation image is displayed in a magnified area of a navigation display area with no meter images displayed. A driver is therefore allowed to attentively view the navigation image in order to perform a route set or to change scales of a displayed map. When the driver further turns on an ignition switch, the magnified display mode is switched to a normal display mode. In the normal display mode, a meter display area and a vehicle state display area coexist with the navigation display area in the TFT display device; a navigation image is displayed in a normal area of the navigation display area with a meter image, e.g., a speed meter image, and a warning indicator image displayed simultaneously.

When an ignition switch is turned on to display an image on a display apparatus, the display apparatus first displays a needle image of meter images and a warning indicator image. Out of the meter images, the display apparatus displays the needle image for a specified time period (e.g., 0.2 seconds), and then displays a dial image. After displaying the dial image for a specified time period, the display apparatus displays a navigation image. The specified time period may be set to 0.5 through 1.0 second, for example, long enough to visually check or recognize display of the meter image and the warning indicator image. Accordingly, it is possible to visually check the meter image and the warning indicator image while the navigation image is not displayed.

A pair of resilient clamps hold L-shaped terminals which extend from a self-luminescent indicator. An insulator disk holds a flexible conductive coil member and has slots which accommodate an end of the coil member and the resilient clamps in compressive state so that resilient force of the resilient clamps provide stable electric connection between the L-shaped terminals and the end of the coil member automatically when the clamp members are inserted into the slots. A pair of stationary catch members hold the other end of the coil member and connect it to an electric source. The connection between the other end of the coil member and the catch members is carried by hot punching to form thermo-compression bonding layer. The connecting portions of the catch members and the coil member are plated with tin or solder beforehand for this purpose.

Indicating instrument having self-luminescent indicator

A coil-shaped flexible printed circuit board retains its original outer diameter unchanged without any guide or retainer. For this purpose, either the conductive pattern of copper or synthetic base material is processed to have a permanent stretch before or when the board is wound into a coil shape. A squeezing step may be employed to generate the permanent stretch on the conductive pattern. Alternatively, a heat treatment of the base material may be used to form an additional bridged ingredient after the board has been wound. The additional bridged ingredient may retain the coil shape unchanged for a long time without guiding pieces.

Coil-shaped flexible printed circuit board

A self-luminescent indicator which may be employed in a tachometer, a speedometer, or other such gauges in automotive vehicles. The self-luminescent indicator comprises an indicating pointer, a luminescent element, and a semitransparent member. The indicating pointer includes a housing and a cover. The housing has formed therein a groove. The luminescent element is disposed in the groove of the housing. The semitransparent member is arranged within the cover of the indicating pointer for diffusing light emitted from the luminescent element out of the indicating pointer. The semitransparent member has side walls extending substantially parallel to each other in a vertical direction parallel to a given optical path of the luminescent element. With this arrangement, the indicating pointer projects light having uniform and high brightness to an observer without having the light experience total reflection in the semitransparent member so as to improve the visibility of pointer deflection over a dial plate.

Analog indicator with self-luminescent pointer

A self-luminescent indicator which may be employed in a tachometer, a speedometer, or other such gauges in automotive vehicles. The self-luminescent indicator comprises an indicating pointer, a luminescent element for emitting light, and a lens. The luminescent element is disposed in the indicating pointer. The lens is arranged in the indicating pointer and includes a flat surface through which light emitted from the luminescent element enters and a corrugated surface which projects the light entering the flat surface out of the indicating pointer. With this arrangement, the indicating pointer projects the light having uniform and high brightness to an observer for improving the visibility of pointer deflection over a dial plate.

An analog indicator for an automotive vehicle is provided. This indicator includes a self-luminescent indicating pointer and a dial plate on which a fluorescent layer is formed. When an input signal indicative of a indicating parameter is changed, the pointer radiates an ultraviolet ray onto the fluorescent layer on the dial plate so that it glows. An observer can thus visually identify a value indicated by the pointer or displacement of the pointer.

A self-luminescent indicator is provided. This indicator includes a pointer, a pointer support shaft rotatably supporting the indicating pointer, a luminescent element arranged in the indicating pointer, and a flexible circuit plate connecting with the luminescent element serving as a lead wire. The flexible circuit plate is arranged around the pointer support shaft in a scroll fashion so that it allows the indicating pointer to rotate about the pointer support shaft.

A self-luminescent pointer device for a gauge has the pointer which is fitted on a pointer shaft and includes an elongated discharge tube. A constricted portion is formed on a part of an outer surface of its elongated hollow rod bulb of the discharge tube. An interior electrode is provided at the end of the bulb and an exterior electrode is provided on the outer surface of the bulb in its axial direction. The constricted portion of the bulb is engaged with a cut-away portion of a holding plate so that the discharge tube is positioned and fixed in its longitudinal direction. Electric power is supplied to the interior electrode and the exterior electrode of the discharge tube through each power supply terminal.

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Kariya, Japan

Miki Kato