CUSTOMIZABLE GRAPHICAL DISPLAY

• US 20110208389A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Tarte, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/151 Instrument output devices for configurable output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• 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 35/20 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 35/214 Variable gauge scales, e.g. scale enlargement to adapt to maximum driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• 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: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/066 for control of contrast
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosed subject matter are directed to customizing the colors of instruments that are used to convey vehicle readings. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains input to perform a color change to one or more instruments presented on a graphical display. For each instrument affected by the color change, a determination is made regarding whether a threshold level of contrast exists between a symbol graphic of the instrument and one or more background colors. If a threshold level of contrast does not exist, the contrast ratio between the symbol graphic and one or more background colors is adjusted to at least the threshold level. Then the method causes the graphical display to render the one or more instruments in accordance with the received color selections.

Claims

1. A method implemented in computer-executable instructions for customizing a graphical display, the method comprising:

obtaining input to perform a color change to one or more instruments presented on the graphical display;

for each instrument affected by the color change;

determining whether a threshold level of contrast exists between a symbol graphic of the instrument and one or more background colors of the instrument;

if a threshold level of contrast does not exist, adjusting the contrast ratio between the symbol graphic and one or more background colors to at least the threshold level; and

causing the graphical display to render the one or more instruments, wherein a color assigned to each instrument rendered on the graphical display may be configured independently by a user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining input to perform a color change includes allowing a user to interact directly with controls in a vehicle to select a color for an instrument.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining input to perform a color change includes allowing a user to interact with an application executed on a computing device, and wherein the application is configured to generate a file that describes a color configuration of the one or more instruments.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the input is a template that applies a common visual theme to the one or more instruments rendered on the graphical display.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the common visual theme defined in the template may be superseded by a user-defined color selection for an individual instrument.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein adjusting the contrast ratio includes modifying the luminance of the symbol graphic and one or more background colors.

7. A system for conveying information to a vehicle operator, comprising:

a graphical display for displaying an instrument cluster that conveys vehicle readings;

a memory storing a display module having program instructions for customizing the graphical display; and

a processor configured to execute the program instructions of the display module to;

obtain input for performing a color change to the one or more instruments displayed on the graphical display;

for each instrument affected by the color change;

determine whether a threshold level of contrast exists between a symbol graphic of the instrument and one or more background colors of the instrument;

if a threshold level of contrast does not exist, adjust the contrast ratio between the symbol graphic and one or more background colors to at least the threshold level;

cause the graphical display to render the one or more instruments, wherein a color assigned to each instrument rendered on the graphical display may be configured independently by a user.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein to obtain input for performing a color change includes allowing a user to interact directly with controls in a vehicle to select a color for an instrument.

9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein to obtain input for performing a color change includes allowing a user to interact with an application executed on a computing device, and wherein the application is configured to generate a file that describes a color configuration of the one or more instruments.

10. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the input is a template that applies a common visual theme to the one or more instruments rendered on the graphical display.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the common visual theme defined in the template may be superseded by a user-defined color selection for an individual instrument.

12. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein to adjust the contrast ratio includes modifying the luminance of the symbol graphic and the one or more background colors.

13. A computer-readable medium having modules for configuring visual attributes of one or more instruments rendered on a graphical display, comprising:

a user interface module operative to obtain selections that describe a color configuration of the one or more instruments;

a database module operative to store data that describes the visual attributes of the graphical display including the selections obtained by the user interface module;

an adjustment module configured to identify the amount of contrast between a symbol graphic of the instrument and one or more background colors and increase the contrast if a threshold level of contrast does not exist; and

a display module configured to render the one or more instruments on the graphical display, wherein a color assigned to each of the one or more instruments may be selected by a user.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 13, further comprising a template module configured to apply a common color theme to each of the one or more instruments rendered on the graphical display.

15. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the common color theme defined in the template module may be superseded by a user-defined color selection.

16. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the user interface module obtains selections that describe a color configuration of the one or more instruments from an application executed on a computing device and wherein the user interface module is further configured to generate a file that describes the color configuration of the one or more instruments.

17. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the user interface module obtains selections that describe a color configuration of the one or more instruments using input controls of a vehicle.

18. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein to increase the contrast includes modifying the luminance of the symbol graphic color and the one or more background colors.

19. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein to render the one or more instruments on the graphical display includes allowing a user to select different background colors of each of the one or more instruments.

20. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein to render the one or more instruments on the graphical display includes allowing a user to select different colors for the symbol graphics of each of the one or more instruments.