SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE RESOLUTION OF AN INFORMATION DISPLAY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100207757A1
• Filed: 02/16/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bishop, Steven, Watson, Angela L., Watson, David, Hernandez, Ivette, Sandvig, Craig, Merchant, Sohel, Erdogan, Engin, Sendil, Altay Jun Wakui, Stage, Susanne
• Application Number:
  US12/371,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• 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 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting the resolution setting of an operating condition of a vehicle displayed using an information display system. The information display system comprising an information display that includes at least one gauge configured to display information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter. A controller may receive information indicative of the vehicle operating condition to be displayed on the at least one gauge. The controller may allow adjustment to the resolution setting of the at least one gauge. Also, the controller may transmit the resolution setting and the vehicle operating parameter so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the resolution setting.

Claims

1. An information display system for a vehicle, the information display system comprising:

an information display including at least one gauge, wherein the at least one gauge is configured to display information indicative of a vehicle operating condition; and

a controller being configured to;

receive information indicative of the vehicle operating condition to be displayed on the at least one gauge;

receive information indicative of an adjustment to the resolution setting of the at least one gauge; and

transmit the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition and the resolution setting so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the resolution setting.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive audible information, and the controller further being configured to allow adjustment to the resolution setting of the information display using the audible information.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive information indicative of an adjustment threshold;

determine if the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition has exceeded the adjustment threshold;

automatically determine an adjusted resolution setting of the at least one gauge when the vehicle operating parameter exceeds the adjustment threshold; and

transmit the adjusted resolution setting so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the adjusted resolution setting.

4. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the gauge is a speedometer that displays the speed of the vehicle based upon a speed interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the speedometer displays the speed interval setting using the resolution setting.

5. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the gauge is a fuel economy gauge that displays the fuel economy of the vehicle based upon a fuel economy interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the fuel economy gauge displays the fuel economy interval setting using the resolution setting.

6. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the gauge is an engine temperature gauge that displays the engine temperature of the vehicle based upon an engine temperature interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the engine temperature gauge displays the engine temperature interval setting using the resolution setting.

7. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the information display system further includes a memory, and the controller further being configured to store on the memory the adjusted resolution setting as one of the operator parameters, the controller further being configured recall from the memory the operator parameters and the controller further being configured to transmit the operator parameter so that the information display displays the vehicle operating condition using the operator parameter.

8. The information display system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to store on the memory a plurality of adjusted resolution settings as one of the operator parameters, the controller further being configured to recall from the memory the operator parameters, and the controller further being configured to transmit the operator parameter so that the information display displays the plurality of adjusted resolution settings using the operator parameter.

9. The information display system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to store on the memory a plurality of default resolution settings, the controller further being configured recall from the memory the plurality of default resolution settings, and the controller further being configured to transmit the default resolution settings so that the information display displays the plurality of adjusted resolution settings using the default resolution settings.

10. The information display 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.

11. An 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 information display system comprising:

an information display including at least one gauge, wherein the at least one gauge is configured to display information indicative of a vehicle operating condition; and

a controller being configured to;

receive information indicative of the vehicle operating condition to be displayed on the information display;

receive information indicative of a lower resolution setting limit and an upper resolution setting limit;

receive information indicative of adjustment to the resolution setting of the at least one gauge within the lower resolution setting limit and the upper resolution setting limit; and

transmit the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition and the resolution setting so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the resolution setting.

12. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive audible information, and the controller further being configured to allow adjustment to the resolution setting of the information display using the audible information.

13. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive information indicative of an adjustment threshold;

determine if the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition has exceeded the adjustment threshold;

automatically determine an adjusted resolution setting of the at least one gauge when the vehicle operating parameter exceeds the adjustment threshold; and

transmit the adjusted resolution setting so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the adjusted resolution setting.

14. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the gauge is a speedometer that displays the speed of the vehicle based upon a speed interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the speedometer displays the speed interval setting using the resolution setting.

15. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the gauge is a fuel economy gauge that displays the fuel economy of the vehicle based upon a fuel economy interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the fuel economy gauge displays the fuel economy interval setting using the resolution setting.

16. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the gauge is an engine temperature gauge that displays the engine temperature of the vehicle based upon an engine temperature interval setting, and the controller is further configured to transmit the resolution setting so that the engine temperature gauge displays the engine temperature interval setting using the resolution setting.

17. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the information display system further includes a memory, and the controller further being configured to store on the memory the adjusted resolution setting as one of the operator parameters, the controller further being configured recall from the memory the operator parameters and the controller further being configured to transmit the operator parameter so that the information display displays the vehicle operating condition using the operator parameter.

18. The information display system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to store on the memory a plurality of adjusted resolution settings as one of the operator parameters, the controller further being configured recall from the memory the operator parameters, and the controller further being configured to transmit the operator parameter so that the information display displays the plurality of adjusted resolution settings using the operator parameter.

19. A method for displaying an adjusted resolution setting of an operating condition of a vehicle using an information display, the information display including at least one gauge, the method comprising:

receiving information indicative of a vehicle operating condition to be displayed on the at least one gauge;

receiving information indicative of an adjustment to the resolution setting of the vehicle operating condition to be displayed on the at least one gauge; and

transmitting the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition and the resolution setting so that the information display displays the vehicle operating condition on the at least one gauge using the adjusted resolution setting.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving information indicative of an adjustment threshold;

determining if the information indicative of the vehicle operating condition has exceeded the adjustment threshold;

automatically determining an adjusted resolution setting of the at least one gauge when the vehicle operating parameter exceeds the adjustment threshold; and

transmitting the adjusted resolution setting so that the at least one gauge displays the vehicle operating condition using the adjusted resolution setting.