Method for Representing Items of Information in a Means of Transportation and Instrument Cluster for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20080161997A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bartoszewski, Heiner, Wengelnik, Heino, Dehmann, Rainer, Kuhn, Mathias, Specks, Will
• Granted Patent: US 11,091,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• 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 35/211 producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method for displaying items of information in a transportation device, the items of information are displayed in the form of hierarchical menu structures. A device for displaying items of information includes a control unit and a display unit for the stereoscopic and/or autostereoscopic display of items of information. In the method, the display is implemented stereoscopically, at least two different menus or menu items being displayed to the viewer at different distances. The instrument cluster includes the placement of a mask in front of the display of a display unit, the mask modifying the light emission of the light emitted by the display so as to result in a display of autostereoscopic images.

Claims

1. to 51. (canceled)

52. A method for displaying items of information in a transportation device, comprising:

stereoscopically representing the items of information in the form of hierarchical menu structures on a display device;

wherein at least two different menus or menu items appear at different distances to a viewer.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus or the menu items are displayed in the representing step in a plane that is offset in a direction of the viewer relative to a reference plane.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the menus or the menu items that are offset toward the viewer are displayed in the representing step semi-transparently.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus or the menu items are displayed in the representing step in a plane that is offset away from the viewer relative to a reference plane.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the menus or the menu items offset away from the viewer are displayed in the representing step blurred.

57. The method according to claim 52, further comprising, after selection of a menu item, opening a submenu assigned to the selected menu item in a plane that is rotated about an axis until a surface of the submenu is displayed in a plane parallel to a reference plane.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the axis of rotation is aligned one of (a) vertically and (b) horizontally.

59. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed on surfaces of a stereoscopically displayed cube.

60. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed on inner surfaces of a stereoscopically displayed hollow cube.

61. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed on A surface of a stereoscopically displayed sphere.

62. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed a stereoscopically displayed rotating cylinder.

63. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed on a stereoscopically displayed rotating ring.

64. The method according to claim 52, wherein the menus are disposed on the pages of a stereoscopically displayed open book.

65. The method according to claim 52, wherein menu items are selectable by gestures.

66. The method according to claim 52, wherein menu items are selectable by touching a display for the stereoscopic representation.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein the menu is selectable by touching the display at a virtual key, the key being displayed offset away from a viewer after the touching.

68. The method according to claim 52, wherein information is displayed in the representing step on a surface that is aligned perpendicular to a line of sight of a view, and detailed information associated with the information is displayed in the representing step on a rear side of the surface, the rear side becoming visible to the viewer by a 180°

stereoscopic rotation of the surface.

69. The method according to claim 52, wherein information concerning a part of the transportation device is displayed in the representing step by moving the stereoscopic representation of the part into a visual field of a viewer from a direction of the part in the transportation device.

70. The method according to claim 52, wherein three-dimensional movements of an operating device are reproduced in three dimensions in accordance with the stereoscopic representation.

71. The method according to claim 52, wherein the representing step includes displaying stereoscopically at least one of (a) a speed and (b) an engine speed in the form of a dial-type gauge.

72. The method according to claim 52, wherein the representing step includes displaying stereoscopically at least one of (a) a radiator temperature and (b) a fuel level the form of a dial-type gauge.

73. The method according to claim 52, wherein a menu includes a stereoscopic eye point representation of at least one of (a) the transportation device and (b) a part of the transportation device.

74. The method according to claim 52, wherein at least one menu includes a stereoscopic representation of an interior of the transportation device, in which light, audio and climate control sources in the interior are shown.

75. The method according to claim 52, wherein at least one menu includes the stereoscopic representation of a compass.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the representation of the compass includes a stereoscopically displayed disk, which is viewed obliquely from above.

77. The method according to claim 52, wherein the displays are implemented autostereoscopically.

78. A device for displaying items of information in a transportation device, comprising:

a display unit configured to at least one of (a) stereoscopically and (b) autostereoscopically display of items of information in the form of a hierarchical menu structure; and

a control unit configured to determine the display of menus such that at least two different menus or menu items are displayed by the display unit at different distances to a viewer.

79. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a device configured to display items of information, the device including;

a display unit configured to at least one of (a) stereoscopically and (b) autostereoscopically display of items of information in the form of a hierarchical menu structure; and

a control unit configured to determine the display of menus such that at least two different menus or menu items are displayed by the display unit at different distances to a viewer.

80. The motor vehicle according to claim 79, wherein the display unit is arranged behind a steering wheel in a viewing direction of a driver.

81. The motor vehicle according to claim 79, further comprising a mirror arranged to reflect the display of the display unit in a direction of the viewer.

82. The motor vehicle according to claim 81, wherein the mirror is semi-transparent and arranged between a driver and additional display instruments.

83. The motor vehicle according to claim 81, wherein the display unit is arranged one of (a) above and (b) below the mirror.

84. The motor vehicle according to claim 81, wherein the display unit is arranged such that the display is reflected toward the viewer via a windshield.

85. The motor vehicle according to claim 84, further comprising an optics system, configured to extend an optical path, arranged between the display unit and the windshield.

86. The motor vehicle according to claim 79, further comprising an operating device connected to the control unit and actuatable in a three-dimensional manner, the control unit configured to control the display unit to autostereoscopically reproduce the three-dimensional actuation of the operating device.

87. An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle for displaying items of information in close proximity to a primary visual field of a driver, comprising:

a display unit having a display;

a control unit configured to control the display; and

a mask arranged in front of the display and configured to modify light emission of light emitted by the display such that autostereoscopic images are displayed on the display unit.

88. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the mask includes a wavelength-selective filter mask.

89. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the display unit includes a flat screen on which an optical structure mask is affixed and is configured to allows separation of partial images for an autostereoscopic display.

90. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein a resolution of the display unit in a horizontal direction is greater than 150 dpi.

91. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the control unit is configured to control the display unit to represent a display image such that at least eight autostereoscopic images are displayable simultaneously, the images emittable in a horizontal visual fan.

92. The instrument cluster according to claim 91, wherein a plurality of stereoscopic visual fans is generatable next to each other and form a visual zone.

93. The instrument cluster according to claim 91, wherein a horizontal cone angle of the visual fan is greater than 15°

.

94. The instrument cluster according to claim 93, wherein the horizontal cone angle is between 25°

and 30°

.

95. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, further comprising a device configured to track eye position connected to the control unit;

the mask displaceable in a plane parallel to the display device;

displacement of the mask implementable as a function of a signal of the device configured to track the eye position.

96. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the display includes an area for displaying at least one of (a) a speed and (b) an engine speed in the form of a dial-type gauge.

97. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the display includes an area for displaying at least one of (a) a radiator temperature and (b) a fuel level of a tank.

98. The instrument cluster according to claim 87, wherein the display includes an area for stereoscopically displaying a compass, in which a compass dial is viewable obliquely from above.

99. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an instrument cluster configured to display items of information in close proximity to a primary visual field of a driver, the instrument cluster including;

a display unit having a display;

a control unit configured to control the display; and

a mask arranged in front of the display and configured to modify light emission of light emitted by the display such that autostereoscopic images are displayed on the display unit.

100. The motor vehicle according to claim 99, wherein the instrument cluster is arranged underneath a windshield.

101. The motor vehicle according to claim 100, wherein the instrument cluster is arranged behind a steering wheel.

102. The motor vehicle according to claim 99, further comprising an operating device connected to the control unit and actuable in a three-dimensional manner, the control unit configured to control the display unit such that three-dimensional actuation of the operating device is reproduceable autostereoscopically.