INSTRUMENT PANEL AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A FIRST SYMBOL AND A SECOND SYMBOL

• US 20100277299A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Dolle, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,013,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• 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: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means

Abstract

An automobile instrument panel includes display means with a display area. First and second symbols may be displayed in the display area to convey safety information. The duration of display of a symbol may be different depending upon whether it is an acute safety symbol or a normal safety symbol. An audible alarm may also be activated.

Claims

1. An automobile instrument panel comprising at least one display means, the display means having a display area, the display means being intended to display a first symbol in the display area and being intended to display a second symbol in the display area, wherein the first symbol and the second symbol are symbols associated with safety information.

2. The instrument panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display area is being the only place of display for the first symbol and the second symbol.

3. The instrument panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a matrix type display.

4. The instrument panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instrument panel comprises an acoustic actuation means activated when the first symbol or the second symbol is displayed in the display area.

5. A method of displaying a first symbol and a second symbol in a display area of an instrument panel, comprisingly displaying a first symbol for a first time interval in the display area, and displaying a second symbol in the display area for a second time interval.

6. The display method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first time interval is of a first duration when the first symbol is an acute safety symbol, and the first time interval is of a second duration when the first symbol is a normal safety symbol.

7. The display method as claimed in claim 5, comprising activating an the acoustic actuation means in a first manner when the first symbol is an acute safety symbol and in a second manner when the first symbol is a normal safety symbol.

8. The display method as claimed in claim 5, comprising activating the display area and/or back-lighting of the first symbol in a first manner when the first symbol is an acute safety symbol and in a second manner when the first symbol is a normal safety symbol.