Search Results

A “Thick film Electroluminescence (EL) device” has advantages in its thin structure, light weight, uniform lighting, and mechanical flexibility (bending). From these advantages, the thick film EL can be regarded as the optimum light source for recent cars which require a high packaging density consisting of various components to be mounted in a small space. EL is now being used for light sources for both interior and exterior light sources for automotive applications utilizing its features. However, it has not yet reached a satisfactory level of performance and had only limited application areas because the thick film EL device up to today has a tendency that its luminous intensity rapidly decreases when used in a high temperature and high humidity environment. This time, we prototyped an EL device utilizing a transparent conductive film which can give moisture proof effect and uniform luminous intensity, and we evaluated and analyzed its performance.

In SAE '88 and '89, we exhibited automotive meters, which we named Hybrid Meter I and Hybrid Meter II both having mechanical pointers as well as segmented LCD and dot matrix LCD respectively. This time, innovative Hybrid Meter III has successfully been prototyped. The meter provides more flexibility in display expression by a full dot matrix color LCD as well as excellent visibility of a mechanical pointer. In this paper, we describe background and objectives of the development, structure of the meter, technical highlights, and possible display modes.

Stanley has successfully developed a new concept model of analog type automotive cluster aiming for a thin and light weight structure. The cluster is made with a stepping motor and our original developement of segmented thick film EL. Objectives of Development, Background of Development, Development Procedures and Development Results are discussed in this paper.

Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. has conducted research and development of a GH type LCD since 1975. In 1982, GH double-layered type large-area LCD dashboard developed by Stanley was adopted in a car as an industrialized color LCD for the first time in the world. As a result of this development, we were awarded “The 32nd Okochi Memorial Prize”. Since then, we have performed development of various types of GH LCDs in view of an electronic display suitable for the age of information. Today, we wish to report you the latest development status of such GH displays, particularly for dot matrix configuration. Also we wish to mention about the future perspective of the display utilizing LCD technology.

Digital meters using LED, VFD, LCD and other technologies in dashboards are increasing along with progress of recent automotive electronics. But as a matter of fact, their rate of use remains still low, because of the following reasons, although these electronic meters are expected to rapidly spread in the market with flow of electronization. 1. Unfamiliarity with digital display 2. Flat appearance (lack of perspective look) We have newly succeeded through pursuing an ideal in development of automotive hybrid LCD meter which has advantages of both electronic and mechanical meters, and which can be regarded as a compromise between the two types of the meters. We believe such a meter will be accepted by drivers without any particular resistance. As this meter uses the two different technologies, we may be able to call this as a hybrid meter.