Patent ID: 8669855
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An indicator apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that incorporates an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as motive power sources, and that is capable of traveling in one of traveling modes including a first mode where traveling is performed while said internal combustion engine is stopped and a second mode where traveling is performed while both of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor are operated, the indicator apparatus comprising: an electronic control unit configured to switch between said first mode where traveling is performed while said internal combustion engine is stopped and said second mode where traveling is performed while both of said internal combustion engine and said electric motor are operated based on an output demand from a driver; a first indicator portion indicating to the driver a first state amount that changes in accordance with said output demand from the driver, the first indicator portion having a range and displaying a mark that moves over an area that includes the range as the first state amount changes; and a second indicator portion indicating to the driver a second state amount that shows switching between the first mode and the second mode so that the driver can recognize the switching and whether traveling is being performed in the first mode or the second mode by comparing the first and second state amounts, the second indicator portion indicating the switching as occurring at a position within the range of the first indicator portion, the second indicator portion displaying a first region indicative of travel in the first mode, the first region being displayed over a portion of the area through which the mark moves so that the mark overlaps the first region when the traveling is being performed in the first mode, wherein the second indicator portion displays a second region indicative of travel in the second mode, the second region being displayed over a portion of the area through which the mark moves, adjacent to the first region, so that the mark overlaps the second region when the traveling is being performed in the second mode.