REMOTE STATUS MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY FOR A TRANSPORT VEHICLE

• US 20070195079A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Nelson, Matthew, Jessen, Jerry, Boudewyns, Phillip R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A display for a transport unit. The transport unit includes a vehicle, a trailer that defines a space, and a sensor that is in communication with the transport unit and that senses a parameter of the transport unit. The display unit includes a housing that is attachable to the trailer, and a display portion coupled to the housing. The display portion includes a screen configured to display the parameter. A controller is in electrical communication with the display portion to display the parameter on the screen. The controller is programmed to selectively switch the screen between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode such that the parameter is readable on the screen from outside the vehicle and from inside the vehicle based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A display for a transport unit that includes a vehicle, a trailer defining a space, and a sensor in communication with the transport unit and operable to sense a parameter of the transport unit, the display comprising:

a housing attachable to the trailer;

a display portion coupled to the housing and including a screen configured to display the parameter; and

a controller in electrical communication with the display portion to display the parameter on the screen, the controller programmed to selectively switch the display portion between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode such that the parameter is readable on the screen from outside the vehicle and from inside the vehicle based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display portion between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode based on attachment of the vehicle and the trailer.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to automatically switch the display portion between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode based on the relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

4. The display of claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor coupled to the display portion to sense a quantity of light available adjacent the display portion, and wherein the controller is in communication with the optical sensor to adjust illumination of the screen in response to a change in the quantity of light available.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein the parameter is indicative of a temperature of the space.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the parameter is indicative of a zone of the space.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the trailer includes a fuel reservoir, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a fuel level of the fuel reservoir.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the transport unit includes a temperature control unit coupled to the trailer, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a status of the temperature control unit.

9. The display of claim 1, further comprising a switch positioned adjacent the display portion, the switch being in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the switch is operable to emit a signal to sense the relationship of the vehicle with regard to the trailer, and wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display portion between the forward view mode and the mirror view mode based on the signal.

10. A transport unit comprising:

a trailer defining a space that has at least one zone;

a vehicle attachable to the trailer, and including a passenger compartment and a rear view mirror;

a sensor in communication with the transport unit, the sensor operable to sense a parameter of the transport unit;

a housing coupled to the trailer and including a display having a screen configured to display the parameter; and

a controller attached to the trailer and in communication with the space, the controller in electrical communication with the sensor and the display, and programmed to selectively switch the display between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

11. The transport unit of claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode based on attachment of the vehicle and the trailer.

12. The transport unit of claim 10, wherein the controller is operable to automatically switch the display between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode.

13. The transport unit of claim 10, further comprising a switch positioned adjacent the display, the switch being in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the switch is operable to emit a signal to sense the proximity of the vehicle with regard to the position of the trailer, and wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display portion between the forward view mode and the mirror view mode based on the signal.

14. The transport unit of claim 10, further comprising an optical sensor coupled to the display to sense a quantity of light available adjacent the display, and wherein the controller is in communication with the optical sensor to adjust illumination of the screen in response to a change in the quantity of light available.

15. The transport unit of claim 10, wherein the parameter is indicative of a temperature of the space.

16. The transport unit of claim 10, wherein the parameter is indicative of a zone of the space.

17. The transport unit of claim 10, wherein the trailer includes a fuel reservoir, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a fuel level of the fuel reservoir.

18. The transport unit of claim 10, further comprising a temperature control unit attached to the trailer and operable to vary the conditions of the space, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a status of the temperature control unit.

19. A transport unit comprising:

a trailer defining a space;

a vehicle attachable to the trailer and including a passenger compartment,

a temperature control unit attached to the trailer and operable to vary the conditions of the space;

a fuel reservoir coupled to the trailer and in communication with the temperature control unit;

a sensor in communication with the fuel reservoir, the sensor operable to sense a fuel level of the fuel reservoir;

a controller coupled to the trailer and in electrical communication with the sensor to receive a signal indicative of the fuel level from the sensor, the controller including a first display configured to display the fuel level such that the fuel level is readable from outside the passenger compartment; and

a second display coupled to the trailer and in electrical communication with the controller, the second display configured to receive a signal indicative of the fuel level from the controller based on the signal received from the sensor such that the fuel level is selectively readable from inside the passenger compartment and from outside the passenger compartment.

20. A method of displaying a parameter of a transport unit, the method comprising:

providing transport unit including a trailer, and a vehicle attachable to the trailer;

providing a controller coupled to the trailer, and a display in electrical communication with the controller;

sensing the parameter with a sensor in communication with the transport unit and delivering a signal indicative of the parameter to the controller;

displaying the parameter on the display; and

automatically adjusting the display between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising

displaying the parameter in the forward view mode;

moving the vehicle into substantial proximity to the trailer; and

automatically changing the display from the forward view mode to the mirror view mode in response to the vehicle being in substantial proximity to the trailer; and

displaying the parameter on the display in the mirror view mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the vehicle into substantial proximity to the trailer includes attaching the vehicle to the trailer.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising

displaying the parameter in the mirror view mode;

detaching the vehicle from the trailer; and

changing the display from the mirror view mode to the forward view mode in response to the vehicle being detached from the trailer; and

displaying the parameter on the display in the forward view mode.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising dimming the display in response to a signal indicative of a change in a quantity of light adjacent the display from a sensor coupled to the controller.