Method display device, display method for the same, and hybrid vehicle equipped therewith

• US 7,710,252 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaya, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US11/794,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340459-462, 701/22, 180/65.265, 180/65.275
• US Class Current: 340/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/08 using a common indicating element for two or more variables
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A meter display device includes a display panel that can display a plurality of different types of display information on the same position. The display information includes, at the least, first display information related to a hybrid vehicle and second display information related to the hybrid vehicle. The meter display device also includes a meter control unit that performs control such that any one of the plurality of different types of display information are displayed on the display panel.

Claims

1. A meter display device used in a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a motor that are controlled such that power from one and/or both of the engine and the motor is output to a drive shaft that rotates wheels, comprising:

(a) a display device that displays a plurality of types of display information related to the hybrid vehicle at the same position on the display device, the display information including first display information and second display information that are different from each other; and

(b) a display controller that controls the display information displayed on the display device such that any one of the plurality of types of display information that can be displayed on the display device is displayed, wherein

(c) the display controller controls which one of the first and second display information is displayed on the display device based on whether a shift lever of the hybrid vehicle is in a sequential shift range, and wherein

the first display information is a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, and

the second display information is any one of power that is output from the hybrid vehicle, power that is output from the internal combustion engine, or power that is output to the drive shaft.

2. The meter display device according to claims 1, wherein

whether the shift lever is in the sequential shift range is indicated by a sequential shift switch;

the display controller performs control such that the rotation speed meter is displayed on the display device when the sequential shift switch is on, and

the display controller performs control such that the output meter is displayed on the display controller when the sequential shift switch is off.

3. The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller performs control such that the rotation speed meter is displayed on the display device when the hybrid vehicle is being operated such that the engine speed of the internal combustion engine is adjusted as if a gear ratio has been changed, and

the display controller performs control such that the output meter is displayed on the display device when the hybrid vehicle is being operated such that the engine speed of the internal combustion engine is not adjusted as if a gear ratio has been changed.

4. The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller performs control such that the output meter is displayed on the display device when the internal combustion engine is stopped and power is output from the motor to the drive shaft.

5. The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller performs control such that, when switching between displaying the output meter and the rotation speed meter, the display controller electronically switches, at the least, a meter scale display of the output meter with a meter scale display of the rotation speed meter.

6. The meter display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display controller performs control such that, when switching between displaying the output meter and the rotation speed meter, the display controller electronically switches, at the least, a needle display of the output meter with a needle display of the rotation speed meter.

7. A hybrid vehicle equipped with the meter display device according to claim 1.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

an electric power/power input-output device, connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the drive shaft, that outputs at least a part of the power output from the internal combustion engine to the drive shaft by inputting/outputting electric power and power, and

a vehicle control device that controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power/power input-output device and the motor based on the operation condition of the hybrid vehicle.

9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the electric power/power input-output device includes a three-shaft power input/output device, having three shafts that are connected to three respective shafts that are the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the drive shaft and a third rotating shaft, for selectively inputting/outputting power to/from any two of the three shafts, and selectively inputting/outputting power to/from the remaining shaft such that the two shafts input power when the remaining shaft outputs power or the two shafts output power when the remaining shaft inputs power;

and

a generator that inputs/outputs power to/from the third rotating shaft.

10. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the electric power/power input-output device comprises:

a first rotor which is connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine;

a second rotor which is connected to the drive shaft; and

a rotor motor which inputs/outputs electric power generated by the electromagnetic effect of the first rotor and the second rotor, and which outputs at least a part of power from the internal combustion engine to the drive shaft.

11. A meter display method used in a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a motor that are controlled such that power from one and/or both of the engine and the motor is output to a drive shaft that rotates wheels, comprising:

displaying first display information that shows changes in a first parameter related to the hybrid vehicle on a display device;

displaying second display information that shows changes in a second parameter related to the hybrid vehicle on the display device, instead of displaying changes in the first parameter, and

controlling which one of the first and second display information is displayed based on whether a shift lever of the hybrid vehicle is in a sequential shift range, wherein

the first display information is a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, and

the second display information is any one of power that is output from the hybrid vehicle, power that is output from the internal combustion engine, or power that is output to the drive shaft.