VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY AND METHOD

• US 20100102945A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Greenberg, Jeffrey, Hernandez, Ivette, Belloli, James, Sandvig, Craig, Merchant, Sohel, Erdogan, Engin, Sendil, Altay Jun Wakui, Blommer, Michael, Stage, Susanne, Hartl, Derek, Bishop, Steven, Watson, Angela L., Watson, David, Skaff, Ryan J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/462
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An information display system for a vehicle includes an information display for displaying a plurality of selectable information display levels according to an information display hierarchy. Each selectable information display level may include one or more visual gauges for conveying vehicle information. Each successive selectable information display level may include additional and/or alternative vehicle information when compared to the preceding selectable information display level. The information display system further includes a controller configured to display the plurality of selectable information display levels according to an at least one driver input. In this way, the information display can display a particular selectable information display level best suited to a driver'"'"'s individual preferences or understanding of the vehicle'"'"'s operations.

Claims

1. A hierarchical information display system for a vehicle comprising:

an information display configured to display at least one of a plurality of selectable information display levels, the plurality of selectable information display levels arranged hierarchically and associated with one or more visual gauges, each visual gauge indicating vehicle content; and

a controller being configured to receive the plurality of selectable information display levels and to receive at least one driver input related to a selected level of vehicle content to be displayed corresponding to one of the plurality of selectable information display levels, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit at least one output so that the information display displays the one or more visual gauges associated with the one of the plurality of selectable information display levels.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more visual gauges comprises at least one visual gauge having a first content state and a second content state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second content state includes more vehicle content than the first content state.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable information display levels comprises at least a first selectable information display level and a second selectable information display level, wherein the second selectable information display level includes different vehicle content than that of the first selectable information display level.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first selectable information display level includes at least a first visual gauge and the second selectable information display level includes the first visual gauge and at least a second visual gauge.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more visual gauges comprises at least one visual gauge having a first content state and a second content state, the second content state displaying more vehicle content than that of the first content state, wherein the first selectable information display level includes the at least one visual gauge in the first content state and the second selectable information display level includes the at least one visual gauge in the second content state.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the second selectable information display level includes some of the same vehicle content as that of the first selectable information display level.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each selectable information display level displays an engine coolant temperature (ECT) gauge, the engine coolant temperature gauge including an engine coolant temperature telltale that illuminates when the engine coolant temperature reaches a predetermined value.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein each selectable information display level displays a fuel level gauge, the fuel level gauge including a fuel level line and an area below the fuel level line that changes colors when the fuel level line reaches a predetermined value.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information display is an electrical display.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one display control button, wherein the driver input corresponds to a selection of the least one display control button.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to receive input corresponding to the at least one display control button for navigating the plurality of selectable information display levels arranged hierarchically and displaying at least one of the plurality of selectable information display panels according to the driver input.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one display control button toggles between the plurality of selectable information display levels displayed by the display.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one display control button toggles between the one or more visual gauges displayed by the display within at least one of the plurality of selectable information display levels.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more visual gauges comprises at least one visual gauge having a first content state and a second content state, the second content state including more vehicle information than the first content state, and wherein the at least one display control button toggles between the first content state and the second content state.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an electric power source configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, wherein the one or more visual gauges contain vehicle content corresponding to the engine, the electric machine and the electric power source.

17. A method for providing vehicle content to a driver of a vehicle via an information display configured to display a plurality of selectable information display levels, the method comprising:

receiving a driver input corresponding to a selected level of information to be displayed;

displaying one of the plurality of selectable information display levels corresponding to the selected level, the plurality of selectable information display levels arranged hierarchically and including one or more visual gauges indicating vehicle content.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more visual gauges comprises at least one visual gauge having a first content state and a second content state, the method further comprising:

receiving driver input corresponding to selection of the first content state or the second content state; and

displaying the one or more visual gauges corresponding to the selected content state, wherein the second content state includes more vehicle content than the first content state.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving a driver input corresponding to a selected level of information to be displayed comprises:

receiving driver input corresponding to a request to display a display settings menu, the display settings menu including an information display hierarchy of the plurality of selectable information display levels;

displaying the display settings menu; and

receiving driver input corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of selectable information display levels from the information display hierarchy.

20. A hierarchical information display system for a vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an electric power source configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, the hierarchical information display system comprising:

an information display configured to display at least one of a plurality of selectable information display levels, the plurality of selectable information display levels arranged hierarchically and associated with one or more visual gauges, each visual gauge indicating vehicle information corresponding to the engine, the electric machine and the electric power source, each selectable information display level having at least some different vehicle content;

at least one display control button, wherein a driver input corresponds to a selection of the least one display control button; and

a controller being configured to receive the plurality of selectable information display levels and to receive the at least one driver input via the at least one display control button related to a selected level of information to be displayed corresponding to one of the plurality of selectable information display levels, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit at least one output so that the information display displays the one or more visual gauges associated with the one of the plurality of selectable information display levels.