IN-VEHICLE DISPLAY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20120139816A1
• Filed: 12/05/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: KING, ANTHONY GERALD, BENNIE, BRIAN, REMILLARD, JEFFREY THOMAS
• Granted Patent: US 8,605,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/15 Output devices or features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/186 Displaying Information according to relevancy
• 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 35/29 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A system and method for displaying information within a vehicle is described. The system includes at least one sensing device detecting a set of data associated with the vehicle, driver, or surroundings, which is processed using a processing unit for identifying a set of information to be displayed. The system also includes a set of display devices coupled to the vehicle. A router selects one or more display devices for displaying the display element based on a set of conditions. A display control unit generates an appropriate display element for the set of information identified and the selected display.

Claims

1. A display system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensing device detecting a set of data associated with the vehicle, driver, or surroundings;

a processing unit processing data gathered from the sensing device for generating a set of information to be displayed;

a set of display devices coupled to the vehicle;

a router operable to identify the availability of the display devices and to select one or more appropriate display devices based on a set of conditions; and

a display control unit generating a display element appropriate for the one or more display devices as selected by the router.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a line of sight sensor, detecting a line of sight of a user of the system, the display control unit connected to the line of sight sensor generates a display element according the line of sight.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes vehicle/driver-provided systems.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display devices include:

wearable display;

head-up display;

center stack;

instrument cluster display;

or

display screens.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wearable display includes a display incorporated into spectacles.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wearable display is wirelessly coupled to the processing unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device includes an audio device for outputting audible information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the display element comprises imagery that can be superimposed onto the driver'"'"'s field-of-vision.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of conditions include:

available display devices;

criticality of the display element;

driver'"'"'s selection;

environmental state;

driver'"'"'s state;

or

pre-configured settings.

10. A method for displaying information in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a set of parameters associated with the vehicle, driver, or surroundings;

processing the parameters to generate a set of information to be displayed;

selecting one or more display devices to present the display elements based on a set of conditions;

generating display elements to be displayed using the set of information; and

displaying the information using the display devices selected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting step includes detecting a line of sight of the driver.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating step includes generating the display elements adapted to the line of sight.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of conditions including:

available display devices;

criticality of the display element;

driver'"'"'s selection;

environmental state;

driver'"'"'s state;

or

pre-configured settings.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the display devices include:

wearable display;

head-up display;

center stack;

instrument cluster display;

or

display screens.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting step includes determining whether a wearable display device is coupled to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selecting step includes selecting other display device for presenting the display elements upon a determination that the wearable display is unavailable.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting step includes selecting a combination of display devices for providing the display information.