Two-dimensional display apparatus for an automobile

Abstract

A display apparatus for displaying two-dimensionally on a plane the correlation between two parameters, such as the acceleration of an automobile and the fuel consumption rate in its engine, which vary in association with the running of the automobile. The displaying portion includes a plurality of light-emitting elements which are arranged in rows and columns on the same plane so as to be given their respective co-ordinates, or ordinates and abscissas. The acceleration of an automobile is calculated corresponding to the counted value of speed pulses having a frequency proportional to the speed of revolution of the wheels so that the calculated acceleration value may be discriminated to show to which of a plurality of acceleration ranges the acceleration value belongs. Similarly, the fuel consumption rate in the engine is calculated corresponding to the counted value of fuel pulses having a frequency proportional to the fuel consumption rate so that the calculated fuel consumption rate value may be discriminated to show to which of a plurality of fuel consumption rate ranges the fuel consumption rate belongs. The results of discrimination with respect to acceleration and fuel consumption rate are assigned to the ordinate and abscissa on the plane, respectively, so that one of the light-emitting elements arranged at the thus assigned co-ordinates may be lighted. The position or co-ordinate of the lighted element indicates the correlation between the acceleration and the fuel consumption rate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a two-dimensional display apparatus for displaying as a point or an area on a plane different parameters such as the acceleration and the fuel consumption rate of an automobile. Heretofore, an apparatus has been known which calculates and displays parameters, such as the number of rotation of an automobile's engine, the fuel consumption rate and the acceleration of an automobile, which parameters vary in association with the running of an automobile. Further, it has been known to display these parameters in an analogue or digital manner. However, in such known apparatus, for example, in an analogue display apparatus, it is made generally that, when different parameters are to be displayed on a plane, the parameters are displayed in the same direction on the plane, such as longitudinal or transverse direction. Therefore, it is very difficult for a driver of an automobile to be readily acquainted with the correlation between the different parameters which vary in association with each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.