Speedometer display and method for motor vehicles

• US 20030164757A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coato Workshop, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coato Workshop, Inc.
• Inventors: Petras, Peter, Hayashi, Toshiaki, Fujikawa, Norio, Murdock, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,844,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

A graphical display apparatus (and methods) for motor vehicles. The apparatus has a display coupled to an interior portion of a motor vehicle, which faces a driver of the motor vehicle. The display is coupled to an output for identifying a velocity value of the motor vehicle. A first graphical display portion of the display for outputting a first current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a first convention is also included. The first display portion for the current speed indication is coupled to the output. A second graphical display portion of the display for outputting a second current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a second convention is included. The second display portion is coupled to the first display portion such that the first current speed indication in the first convention is aligned to the second current speed indication in the second convention.

Claims

1. A graphical display apparatus for motor vehicles, the display comprising:

a display coupled to an interior portion of a motor vehicle and facing a driver of the motor vehicle, the display being coupled to an output for identifying a velocity value of the motor vehicle;

a first graphical display portion of the display for outputting a first current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a first convention, the first display portion for the current speed indication being coupled to the output; and

a second graphical display portion of the display for outputting a second current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a second convention, the second display portion being coupled to the first display portion such that the first current speed indication in the first convention is aligned to the second current speed indication in the second convention.

2. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first convention is miles per hour and the second convention is kilometers per hour.

3. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication is larger in size than the second current speed indication.

4. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the display is selected from a CRT, a flat panel display, an active matrix display, or a plasma display.

5. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile.

6. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication is an annular structure that appears to revolve about a fixed axis.

7. The graphical display of claim 6 wherein the second current speed indication is an annular structure that appears to revolve about the fixed axis.

8. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication is among a range of speeds from zero to greater than 100 miles per hour.

9. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the second current speed indication is among a range of speeds from zero to 200 kilometers per hour.

10. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication and the second current speed indication are displayed simultaneously.

11. A method for displaying engine characteristics of motor vehicles, the method comprising:

receiving a velocity information from an interface coupled to an engine of an operating motor vehicle, the velocity information corresponding to only one of a plurality of velocities ranging from zero to greater than 100, the velocity information corresponding to one of the plurality of velocities of the operating motor vehicle at a present time of receiving the velocity information;

converting the velocity information into a velocity display format; and

displaying using an annular configuration a first velocity indication in a first convention giving an appearance of rotation about a fixed axis based upon the velocity display format, the first velocity indication being one of the velocities based upon the velocity information of the operating motor vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the velocity indication shows speed of the motor vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying using an annular configuration a second velocity indication in a second convention giving an appearance of rotation about the fixed axis based upon the velocity display format, the first velocity indication being coupled to the second velocity indication.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the annular configuration is oriented in a vertical manner.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first convention is miles per hour.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the fixed axis is perpendicular to the annular configuration.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying using an annular configuration a second velocity indication in a second convention giving an appearance of rotation about the fixed axis based upon the velocity display format, the first velocity indication being coupled to the second velocity indication and the first velocity indication being displayed simultaneously as the second velocity indication.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first convention is miles per hour and the second convention is kilometers per hour.