Information display device for vehicle

• US 10,380,176 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kusaka, Kousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): McCord, Paul C
• Application Number:
  US14/122,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,596 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 715716
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/137 Jog-dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/65 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A vehicle information display device basically includes an audio unit, a steering switch and a meter unit. The audio unit is installed in a vehicle, and has an operation input unit. The steering switch operates the audio unit. The steering switch is provided to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The meter unit has a meter display for displaying operation specifics information that represents operation specifics conveyed as an instruction to the audio unit by operation of the operation input unit or the steering switch.

Claims

1. A vehicle information display device comprising:

an audio unit installed in a vehicle that is equipped with the vehicle information display device;

a switch operatively coupled to the audio unit for operating the audio unit; and

a meter unit having a first display screen that is a meter display disposed in front of a driver seat,

the audio unit having an operation input unit, a second display screen disposed between the driver seat and a front passenger seat of the vehicle, a storing unit that stores music files, and a music playback unit that plays the music files,

the first display screen of the meter unit and the second display screen of the audio unit being arranged in a location that is visible to a driver seated in the driver seat of the vehicle,

the first display screen displaying operation specifics information representing operation specifics conveyed as an instruction to the audio unit having the second display screen by operation of at least one of the operation input unit and the switch,

the operation specifics information including at least one of genre information, artist information, album information and folder information,

the music playback unit being configured to play a selected music file of the music files that corresponds to the operation specifics information,

at least one of the operation input unit and the switch being configured to select the music file after the first display screen displays the operation specifics information,

the second display screen being configured to display at least one of song title information, filename information and track information regarding the music file selected by operation of the at least one of the operation input unit and the switch after the first display screen displays the operation specifics information, and

the first display screen continuing to display the operation specifics information corresponding to the time prior to the selected music file being selected, even after the selected music file is selected by operation of the at least one of the operation input unit and the switch.

2. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein

the operation specifics information is different from an ultimate result of an operation performed by the audio unit based on operation of the at least one of the operation input unit and the switch.