Combination Instrument

• US 20110037583A1
• Filed: 08/09/2008
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automobili Lamborghini SPA (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Automobili Lamborghini SPA (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Rebottini, Corrado, Mazzetti, Stefano, Fitzgerald, Manfred, Perini, Filippo
• Granted Patent: US 8,692,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle

Abstract

An instrument cluster for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle has at least one display on which relevant operational data of the vehicle can be displayed. The at least one display is freely programmable with respect to the data displayed on it and can be switched between at least two different configurations.

Claims

1. An instrument cluster for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, with at least one display on which relevant operational data of the vehicle can be displayed wherein at least one display is freely programmable with respect to of the data displayed on it, and that the display can be switched between at least two different configurations.

2. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three freely programmable displays.

3. The instrument cluster according to claim 2 wherein said displays are connected via at least one control device to a sensor for measuring the relevant operational data of the motor vehicle.

4. The instrument cluster according to claim 2 wherein speed can be displayed on a first of said display, the rpm on a second of said displays, and the acceleration of the motor vehicle on a third of said displays (9).

5. The instrument cluster according to claim 4 wherein at least in one of the configurations, in addition to the speed, the power delivered by the internal combustion engine can be displayed on said first display.

6. The instrument cluster according to claim 4 wherein at least in one of the configurations on said second of said display, in addition to the rpm, the gear engaged in the vehicle transmission can be displayed.

7. The instrument cluster according to claim 6 wherein at least in one of the configurations, the indicated rpm is visually linked to the display of the gear engaged in the transmission.

8. The instrument cluster according to claim 4 wherein said third display is connected to an accelerometer.

9. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein on at least one of said displays, the picture taken by a camera recording the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be displayed.

10. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said displays is designed as a TFT display.

11. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein one of the configurations is a normal configuration and the other is a racing configuration.

12. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein the two configurations can be set by means of a switch.

13. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein there are two other displays with LED display elements.

14. An instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising at least one display means programmed to display an image of selected one of diverse forms of representation indicating a sensed condition of said vehicle.

15. An instrument panel according to claim 14 wherein said display means comprises a TFT display.

16. An instrument panel according to claim 14 wherein said forms of representation include digital and analog devices.

17. An instrument panel according to claim 14 wherein said condition includes one of a group including rpm, engaged transmission gear, acceleration, speed and engine power.

18. An instrument panel according to claim 14 including a switch for selecting one of said forms.

19. An instrument panel according to claim 14 including at least one other type of display means comprising an LED display.

20. An instrument panel according to claim 14 wherein said image comprises a photograph of an exterior surrounding segment of said vehicle.