IP Library Granted Patent US 8,886,396
Granted Patent B2
US 8,886,396 · App. 13/667,055 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Meter display device for vehicle and display method thereof

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,886,396
App. No.
13/667,055
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a meter display device provided in a vehicle, including a display portion having a display region in which a plurality of display areas extending elongatedly in the left-right direction of a meter body are provided in proximity in a line arrangement in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and a display control portion switching each of the display areas between the display operated state and the non-display operated state and increasing the number of the display areas display-operated.

Claims (30)

1. A meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a display portion including a display region which includes a plurality of display areas, the plurality of display areas extending elongatedly in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal dimension of the meter display device from a perspective of a driver of the vehicle, the plurality of display areas being provided in proximity in a line arrangement in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, the orthogonal direction being a direction along a flat surface of the display portion; and

a display control portion switching each of the display areas between a display-operated state and a non-display operated state and increasing a number of the display areas in the display-operated state from one end in the orthogonal direction toward another end in the orthogonal direction according to a predetermined state change of the vehicle,

wherein the display control portion displays a current state of the state change of the vehicle by a selected one of (i) means of a number of the display areas that are in the display-operated state and (ii) means of a number of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state.

2. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display portion is arranged at a center of a width of the meter display device in the left-right direction.

3. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the display areas in the left-right direction is set to be sequentially changed in the orthogonal direction.

4. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the width of the display areas in the left-right direction is set to be increased from the one end in the orthogonal direction toward the other end in the orthogonal direction.

5. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display region is formed to be left-right symmetrical.

6. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein codes indicating a state of the vehicle are provided in proximity in a line arrangement in the orthogonal direction corresponding to the display areas.

7. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of a drive source of the vehicle having a transmission is displayed on the display portion.

8. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display portion includes a center display region for displaying a rotation speed of a drive source at a center of the meter display device in the left-right direction.

9. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the center display region is formed in a trapezoidal shape.

10. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a change of the number of the display areas that are in the display-operated state or the number of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state becomes larger as the state change of the vehicle becomes larger.

11. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the display areas that are in the display-operated state or the number of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state becomes larger as the state change of the vehicle becomes larger.

12. A motorcycle including a meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a display portion including a display region which includes a plurality of display areas, the plurality of display areas extending elongatedly in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal dimension of the meter display device from a perspective of a driver of the vehicle, the plurality of display areas being provided in proximity in a line arrangement in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, the orthogonal direction being a direction along a flat surface of the display portion; and

a display control portion switching each of the display areas between a display-operated state and a non-display operated state and increasing a number of the display areas in the display-operated state from one end in the orthogonal direction toward another end in the orthogonal direction according to a predetermined state change of the vehicle,

wherein the display control portion displays a current state of the state change of the vehicle by a selected one of (i) means of a number of the display areas that are in the display-operated state and (ii) means of a number of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state, and

wherein a center of the meter display device in the left-right direction is located at a center of the vehicle in the left-right direction.

13. A display method of a meter display device for a vehicle, the display method comprising:

providing in a display portion a display region including a plurality of display areas, the plurality of display areas extending elongatedly in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal dimension of the meter display device from a perspective of a driver of the vehicle, the plurality of display areas being provided in proximity in a line arrangement in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, the orthogonal direction being a direction along a flat surface of the display portion;

using a display control portion controlling the display portion to switch each of the display areas between a display-operated state and a non-display operated state and to increase a number of the display areas in the display-operated state from one end in the orthogonal direction toward another end in the orthogonal direction according to a predetermined state change of the vehicle; and

displaying a current state of the state change of the vehicle by a selected one of (i) means of a number of the display areas that are in the display-operated state and (ii) means of a number of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state.

14. The display method according to claim 13 , wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle.

15. A meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a display portion including a display region which includes a plurality of display areas, the plurality of display areas extending elongatedly in a left-right direction, which is a horizontal dimension of the meter display device from a perspective of a driver of the vehicle, the plurality of display areas being provided in proximity in a line arrangement in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, the orthogonal direction being a direction along a flat surface of the display portion; and

a display control portion switching each of the display areas between a display-operated state and a non-display operated state and increasing a number of the display areas in the display-operated state from one end in the orthogonal direction toward another end in the orthogonal direction according to a predetermined state change of the vehicle,

wherein the display control portion displays a current state of the state change of the vehicle by a selected one of (i) means of a total area of the display areas that are in the display-operated state and (ii) means of a total area of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state.

16. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein a change of the total area of the display areas that are in the display-operated state or a change of the total area of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state becomes larger as the state change of the vehicle becomes larger.

17. The meter display device for the vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the total area of the display areas that are in the display-operated state or the total area of the display areas that are in the non-display operated state becomes larger as the state change of the vehicle becomes larger.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 060300/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2012
From: KOBAYASHI, MITSURU; SAITO, SHOJI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 029232/0440 →