Display device for a vehicle

• US 5,463,370 A
• Filed: 02/16/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tamapack Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tamapack Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamada, Masao, Ishikawa, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/022,886
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/441, 340/463, 340/466, 340/467, 340/468, 340/469, 340/478, 340/479, 340/465, 340/459, 340/464, 340/483, 340/489, 340/461, 340/975, 340/984, 200/61.89, 200/61.29, 273/86, 273/442, 273/351, 273/371, 273/378, 273/379, 273/433, 273/434, 273/438, 434/62, 434/65, 434/45, 434/47, 434/69, 434/30
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/444 with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle

Abstract

A sensor for detecting the degree of the operation of the accelerator in an automobile is provided and the display apparatus for expanding shrinking the display detection of the sensor is provided in the automobile so that the display apparatus can be observed from the outside. Apparatus for detecting the number of rotation of engine and the depressing degree of the brake pedal also provided. The number of the engine and the depressing degree of the brake pedal as well as operation degree of the accelerator pedal is displayed inside the car and outside the car by using the light emitting display apparatus. Apparatus for detecting the running speed of vehicle and the apparatus for detecting the acceleration and the deceleration of the vehicle are provided a plurality of different meaningful of character strings are displayed outside the vehicle in accordance with the detection status of the detecting apparatus to that the running status of the automobile is displayed. Based on the detecting apparatus for detecting the rotation direction of the clockwise direction or the anti-clockwise direction of the handle and the degree of the rotation is also detected by the detectors which can be observed from outside of the car and the moving running direction of the vehicle can be displayed.

Claims

1. An accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus, comprising:

a sensor having a parallel resonance circuit formed by a coil and a capacitor, said coil being magnetically coupled to an accelerator pedal and said capacitor being connected in parallel to said coil, said sensor sensing a magnitude of operation of said accelerator pedal, including a status in which said accelerator pedal is not operated; and

means for indicating said magnitude of operation of said accelerator pedal based upon an output of said sensor.

2. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coil produces a magnetic flux, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for forming a magnetic path.

3. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises:

a microprocessor;

a detecting circuit that converts and regulates an output signal of said sensor;

a comparator having two inputs, said output signal from said detecting circuit being inputted to one input of said comparator; and

a controller that receives output signals from said microprocessor, an output signal from said controller being provided to a second input of said comparator, and an output signal from said comparator being provided to an input of said microprocessor.

4. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises:

a microprocessor;

a detecting circuit that converts and regulates an output signal of said sensor;

a comparator having two inputs, said output signal from said detecting circuit being provided to a first input of said comparator;

a controller that receives an output signal from said microprocessor;

a driver having a plurality of transistors; and

a display having a plurality of light emitting diodes that are driven by said driver, an output signal from said controller being inputted to a second input of said comparator, an output signal from said comparator being provided to an input of said microprocessor, said driver receiving driving signals from said microprocessor, each of said transistors corresponding to at least one of said plurality of light emitting diodes of said display.

5. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means further indicates a magnitude of operation of a brake pedal, including a status in which said brake pedal is not operated.

6. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means indicates said magnitude of operation of said accelerator pedal to an occupant located inside a vehicle associated with said accelerator pedal.

7. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means indicates an engine revolution rate of an engine of a vehicle to an occupant of said vehicle.

8. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said indicating means comprises means for emitting light, said light emitting means indicating an engine revolution rate of an engine and further indicates a magnitude of an operation of a brake pedal, including a status in which said brake pedal is not operated.

9. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 4, wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged to emit light from an area of size that is commensurate with said magnitude of operation of said accelerator pedal.

10. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 4, wherein said display further comprises a plurality of exhibiting units that rotate circularly and successively in correspondence with said magnitude of operation of said accelerator pedal.

11. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for forming a magnetic path is provided in direct contact with said coil.

12. The accelerator operation magnitude display apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for forming a magnetic path is provided in indirect contact with said coil.

14. The vehicle operation status display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor outputs a signal corresponding to an operation status of a brake pedal, said LED display displaying a term "stop" in response to a standing status of said vehicle.

13. A vehicle operation status display apparatus, comprising:

a microprocessor that receives a signal corresponding to an operation status of an accelerator pedal and a signal corresponding to an engine revolution rate;

a controller that receives a signal outputted from said microprocessor; and

at least one dot matrix light emitting display (LED) display that is controlled by said controller, said LED display indicating terms "acceleration" and "deceleration" in accordance with a vehicle operating status.

15. The vehicle operation status display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a sensor having a parallel resonance circuit, wherein said signal corresponding to an operation status of an accelerator pedal is outputted by said sensor.

16. A sensor, comprising:

a parallel resonance circuit that is formed by a coil and a capacitor, said coil being magnetically coupled to an accelerator pedal, and said capacitor being connected in parallel to said coil; and

a magnetic path device that is associated with said coil to effect a magnetic flux that is produced by said coil, said sensor sensing a magnitude of operation of an accelerator pedal, including a status in which said accelerator pedal is not operated.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein said magnetic path device is provided in direct contact with said coil.

18. The sensor of claim 16, wherein said magnetic path device is provided in indirect contact with said coil.

19. The sensor of claim 16, wherein said magnetic path device comprises an empty cylindrical casing.

20. The sensor of claim 19, wherein said cylindrical casing comprises an inner cylindrical portion and an outer cylindrical portion which form an annulus therebetween.

21. The sensor of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of plates provided in said annulus between said outer cylindrical portion and said inner cylindrical portion.

22. The sensor of claim 21, wherein said plurality of plates are arranged radially around said inner cylindrical portion and perpendicularly to a bottom wall of said cylindrical casing.

23. The sensor of claim 19, wherein said cylindrical casing is made of at least one of plastic, rubber, and aluminum.

24. The sensor of claim 21, wherein said plurality of plates are formed of silicon iron.