DEVICE FOR INDICATING AN OPERATIONAL STATE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20050174226A1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Heyden, Par, Jarlengrip, Johan
• Application Number:
  US10/904,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously

Abstract

Display device for indicating an operational state of a vehicle including a display unit, where the device shows graphical information on the display unit in the form of an arc-shaped scale and a number of numerals corresponding to the value of the operational state. The device includes an arc-shaped field with an extent from a first angle φ₁ to a second angle φ₂ and with an outer delimiting line that extends along the inside of the arc-shaped scale. The arc-shaped field is divided into a first segment A, which extends from the first angle φ₁ to a third variable angle φ, and a second segment B, which extends from the third variable angle φ to the second angle φ₂, where the third variable angle φ to the second angle φ₂. The third variable angle φcorresponds to the relevant operational state of the vehicle and where φ₁≦φ≦φ₂, where the first segment A is arranged to assume a state that is visually distinguishable from the second area B.

Claims

1. An instrument display for visually indicating an operational state of a vehicle (1), said display comprising:

a graphical presentation to a driver including an arc-shaped scale (8) and a number of numerals (12;

15) corresponding to values of a represented operational state;

an arc-shaped field (19) with an extent from a first angle φ

₁ to a second angle φ

₂ and with an outer delimiting line (18) that extends along the inside of the arc-shaped scale (8); and

said arc-shaped field (19) being divided into a first segment (A) extending from the first angle φ

₁ to a third variable angle φ and

a second segment (B) extending from the third variable angle φ

to the second angle φ

₂ such that said third variable angle φ

corresponding to the relevant operational state of the vehicle and φ

₁≦

φ

≦

φ

₂ so that the first segment (A) is arranged to assume a state that is visually distinguishable from the second area (B).

2. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein a light intensity in the segment (A) varies smoothly from a first value at the angle φ

₁ to a second value at the angle φ

.

3. The instrument display as recited in claim 2, wherein the light intensity in the segment (A) varies from a lowest value at the angle φ

₁ to a highest value at the angle φ

.

4. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein a light intensity in the segment (A) varies in several increments from a first value at the angle φ

₁ to a second value at the angle φ

.

5. The instrument display as recited in claim 4, wherein the light intensity in the segment (A) varies from a lowest value at the angle φ

₁ to a highest value at the angle φ

.

6. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein the graphical information of the device (3;

4) is arranged to assume a modified state in an area around φ

, in comparison with the normal representation.

7. The instrument display as recited in claim 6, wherein the resolution of the display of the numeric values is higher in the area around the angle φ

.

8. The instrument display as recited in claim 6, wherein the arc-shaped scale (8) is arranged to assume a first state (13) which is visually distinguishable from a second state (14), and that the second state (14) is assumed by the scale in the area around. φ

.

9. The instrument display as recited in claim 6, wherein each numeral (12;

15) representing an operational state of the vehicle (1) is arranged to assume a first normal format (16) and a second larger format (17), the second larger format (17) being assumed in the area around the angle φ

.

10. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein the segment (A) can vary in color at different operational states.

11. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein the segment (A) can vary in intensity at different operational states.

12. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is oval in shape.

13. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is elliptical in shape.

14. The instrument display as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the following operational states is represented:

vehicle speed, engine speed, distance, time, fuel level, pressure, voltage and current.