Display device for vehicle

• US 9,031,770 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Mahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US14/103,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/084 indicating economy
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0625 Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/26 Devices for measuring efficiency, i.e. the ratio of power output to power input
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A display device for a vehicle is provided in a vehicle having idling stop function and includes: a fuel economy display unit to display fuel economy information on the vehicle; an first fuel economy display unit to calculate a first fuel economy based on a distance traveled and fuel consumption in a first period; and a second fuel economy calculation unit to calculate an second fuel economy based on a distance traveled and fuel consumption in a second period shorter than the first period. The device also includes a display control unit to control display of the fuel economy display unit based on a fuel economy difference between the first and second fuel economies. When the second fuel economy reaches a reference value before performing idling stop, the fuel economy display control unit controls the fuel economy display unit based on the last fuel economy difference without updating the difference.

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle configured to be provided in a vehicle having an idling stop function to cause an engine to stop, the display device comprising:

a fuel economy display unit to display fuel economy information on the vehicle;

a first fuel economy calculation unit to calculate a first fuel economy based on a distance traveled and a fuel consumption in a first period;

a second fuel economy calculation unit to calculate a second fuel economy based on a distance traveled and a fuel consumption in a second period that is shorter than the first period; and

a display control unit configured to control the display of the fuel economy display unit based on a fuel economy difference between the first fuel economy and the second fuel economy,

wherein when the second fuel economy reaches a reference value before idling stop is performed, the display control unit controls the fuel economy display unit based on a last fuel economy difference without updating the fuel economy difference,

wherein the reference value is a minimum value or a maximum value in a calculation range of the second fuel economy.

2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the fuel economy display unit is a needle-type meter having a needle;

when the fuel economy difference is zero, the display control unit operates the needle to indicate a reference position;

when the fuel economy difference is calculated to be a positive value, the display control unit operates to move the needle from the reference position to one side; and

when the fuel economy difference is calculated to be a negative value, the display control unit operates to move the needle from the reference position to the other side.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit operates the needle to indicate the reference position when idling stop is performed.

4. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mode setting unit configured to set an idling stop driving mode in which idling stop is performed according to a state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped,

wherein the idling stop driving mode is set before the idling stop is performed.

5. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a mode setting unit configured to set an idling stop driving mode in which idling stop is performed according to a state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped,

wherein the idling stop driving mode is set before the idling stop is performed.

6. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a mode setting unit configured to set an idling stop driving mode in which idling stop is performed according to a state of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped,

wherein the idling stop driving mode is set before the idling stop is performed.