Solid-state information display apparatus for automobile vehicle

• US 4,646,059 A
• Filed: 11/20/1984
• Issued: 02/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Tadashi, Sumida, Shizuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Queen, Tyrone
• Application Number:
  US06/673,221
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 F, 340/52 R, 340/59, 340/60, 340/525, 340/870.09, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A solid-state display apparatus for visually indicating the status of vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel remaining, coolant temperature and other parameters which altogether represent the condition of the vehicle includes solid-state display gauges constituted by either electro-luminescent elements or liquid crystal display cells. Some of the parameters are constantly displayed through their own display gauges at all times during the use of the vehicle while other parameters are adapted to be displayed upon demand through their own display gauges. The other parameters can also be automatically and forcibly displayed in the event of the occurrence of an out-of-limits value thereof.

Claims

1. An information display apparatus for a vehicle for indicating the status of parameters which altogether represent the condition of the vehicle being operated, which apparatus comprises, in combination:

a first display unit including at least one first detecting means for detecting a change in a running speed of the vehicle and for generating an output signal indicative of such change in said vehicle running speed, a first indicator, and a first driving means electrically connected between said first indicator and said first detecting means for driving said first indicator, said first driving means causing said first indicator to present a visual indication of said change in said vehicle running speed;

a second display unit including at least one second detecting means for detecting a change in an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank of the vehicle or a temperature of coolant used to cool an engine of the vehicle and for generating an output signal indicative of such change in said remaining fuel amount or coolant temperature, a second indicator, a second driving means electrically connected between said second indicator and said second detecting means for driving said second indicator, and a manually operated switch means connected to said second driving means for causing said second driving means to cause said second indicator to present a visual indication of said change in said remaining fuel amount or coolant temperature;

a third display unit including at least one third detecting means for detecting a change in an engine speed of said vehicle engine and for generating an output signal indicative of such change in said engine speed, a third indicator, a third driving means electrically connected between said third indicator and said third detecting means for driving said third indicator, an additional manually operated switch means connected to said third driving means for causing said third driving means to cause said third indicator to present a visual indication of said change in said engine speed; and

an emergency output generator means electrically connected to said second detecting means for generating an emergency output signal when said output signal from said second detecting means deviates from a predetermined value, said second driving means being enabled so as to generate said emergency output signal in response to said emergency output signal from said emergency output generating means regardless of the position of said manually operated switch;

wherein said emergency output generating means comprises a comparator means which is electrically connected to said second detecting means, and a gating circuit electrically connected between said comparator means and said second driving circuit, said gating circuit being enabled only when said output signal from said second detecting means deviates from said predetermined value, so as to allow the passage of said emergency output signal therethrough to said second driving means;

wherein said apparatus further comprises a power source, wherein said manually operated switch means and said additional manually operated switch means each comprise a switch having one terminal connected to said power source and having another terminal connected to a resistor connected to a ground, said another terminal of said switch of said manually operated switch means being connected to said second driving means and said another terminal of said switch of said additional manually operated switch means being connected to said third driving means;

and wherein said gating circuit comprises an OR gate having inputs connected to an output of said comparator means and said another terminal of said switch of said manually operated switch means and having an output connected to said second driving means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second display units is constituted by a plurality of electroluminescent elements arranged in a predetermined pattern.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electroluminescent elements are light emitting diodes.