Temperature display device of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10352822-B2
Application number	US-201715398093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Feb 15, 2016
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A temperature display device of a vehicle is provided, which includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of coolant of an engine, the coolant being switched in circulation state by opening and closing a thermostat, between a first state where the coolant is circulated through a radiator and a second state where the coolant is circulated bypassing the radiator, a display unit for displaying a temperature of the coolant, and a controller for controlling a display mode of the display unit based on the detected temperature by the temperature sensor. When the detected temperature changes within a first temperature range where the thermostat is in an open state, the controller changes the displayed temperature on the display unit by less than the change of the detected temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature display device of a vehicle, comprising:
a temperature sensor for detecting a detected temperature of coolant of an engine and a detected change of the detected temperature, the coolant being switched in circulation state by opening and closing a thermostat, between a first state where the coolant is circulated through a radiator and a second state where the coolant is circulated bypassing the radiator;
a display unit for displaying a displayed temperature of the coolant; and
a controller comprising a processor for:
receiving signals from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature,
obtaining the displayed temperature by applying a first display relationship to the detected temperature when the detected temperature is within a first temperature range where the thermostat is in an open state, wherein the first display relationship defines the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes less than the detected temperature, and
controlling a display mode of the display unit to display the displayed temperature of the coolant on the display unit based on the detected temperature of the coolant.

2. The temperature display device of claim 1 , wherein when the detected temperature changes within a second temperature range higher in temperature than the first temperature range, the controller configures a second display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the second temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes more than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the second display relationship.

3. The temperature display device of claim 2 , wherein when the detected temperature changes within a third temperature range higher in temperature than the second temperature range, the controller configures a third display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the third temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes less than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the third display relationship.

4. The temperature display device of claim 1 , wherein when the detected temperature changes within a fourth temperature range lower in temperature than the first temperature range, the controller configures a fourth display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the fourth temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes more than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the fourth display relationship.

5. The temperature display device of claim 1 , wherein the display unit is provided with a plurality of scales and a pointer, is colored to indicate a low temperature within a low temperature range, and is colored to indicate a high temperature within a high temperature range,
wherein when the detected temperature changes within a second temperature range higher in temperature than the first temperature range, the controller configures a second display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the second temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes more than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the second display relationship, and
wherein when the detected temperature changes within a third temperature range that is higher in temperature than the second temperature range and is the high temperature range of the display unit, the controller configures a third display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the third temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes less than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the third display relationship.

6. The temperature display device of claim 1 , wherein the display unit is provided with a plurality of scales and a pointer, is colored to indicate a low temperature within a low temperature range, and is colored to indicate a high temperature within a high temperature range, and
wherein when the detected temperature changes within a fourth temperature range that is lower in temperature than the first temperature range and is close to a higher temperature side of the low temperature range of the display unit, the controller configures a fourth display relationship defining the displayed temperature to be a proportion of the detected temperature within the fourth temperature range, such that over time as the temperature sensor detects changes in the detected temperature, the controller obtains the displayed temperature such that the displayed temperature changes more than the detected temperature, and causes the display unit to display the displayed temperature according to the fourth display relationship.

Assignees

• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Watase Hiroyuki

Classifications

• B60Y2400/92

  Driver displays · CPC title

• G01K1/02

  Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers · CPC title

• G01K2205/00

  Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle · CPC title

• G01M15/048 Primary

  by monitoring temperature · CPC title

• B60Y2400/302

  Temperature sensors · CPC title