GRAPHIC DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20130127609A1
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sitarski, Nicholas Scott, Wippler, Erik Anthony, Rovik, Christopher Lee, Gilling, Earnee Jones
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/165 Videos and animations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/586 Wired data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/165 Videos and animations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/586 Wired data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/00 Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/00 Indexing scheme for image data processing or generation, in general
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 : Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players

Abstract

A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle wherein the display apparatus includes at least two display units operable to display graphics and/or video, a wire connector connecting the at least two display units together, and a control system connected to the wire connector wherein the control system is operable to play video or graphics on the at least two display units. The display units are in communication with one another providing for a coordinated or synchronized display of graphics. If, by way of example, a firework explodes on the main display screen, the remnants of that single firework will be exploded onto the secondary display screens. Further, by way of example, scrolling text may scroll from one display screen to the other giving the synchronized impression to the user that the multiple display screens are similar to one large screen.

Claims

1. A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle, the display apparatus comprising:

at least two display units operable to display video;

a wire connector connecting the at least two display units together; and

a control system connected to the wire connector, the control system operable to play video on the at least two display units;

wherein the at least two display units are in communication with one another providing for a coordinated display of graphics.

2. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display apparatus contains three display units.

3. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the at least two display units is located on the vehicle dashboard.

4. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the at least two display units also operates as the vehicle navigation display unit.

5. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the at least two display units also operates as the vehicle climate control display unit.

6. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two display units are arranged close in proximity to one another.

7. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two display units are operable to display photographs.

8. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coordinated graphics display on the at least two graphics display units are displayed upon opening of a vehicle door.

9. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coordinated graphics display on the at least two graphics display units are displayed upon starting of the vehicle.

10. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coordinated graphics display is displayed for a predetermined length of time.

11. The graphics display apparatus of claim 10 wherein the predetermined length of time ranges from 10-60 seconds.

12. The graphics display apparatus of claim 10 wherein the coordinated graphics display is a welcome display.

13. The graphics display apparatus of claim 10 wherein the coordinated graphics display is a status update of vehicle conditions.

14. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system includes a graphics card.

15. The graphics display apparatus of claim 14 wherein the graphics card of the control system is operable to control graphics, video or photo.

16. A method for controlling a plurality of display screens within an automotive vehicle, the controller controlling a series of steps to generate a synchronized display on a plurality of display screens, the method of the controller comprising the steps of:

starting animation originating on a first display screen for a first predetermined length of time;

moving the animation from the first display screen to a second display screen after a second predetermined length of time; and

coordinating the graphics on the plurality of display screens to generate an appearance of movement between a plurality of display screens of graphics displayed on the plurality of display screens.

17. The method according to claim 17 wherein the movement from the first display screen to the second display screen of the graphics is gradual.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first predetermined amount of time ranging between 0.25 seconds and 10 seconds.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the second predetermined amount of time ranges between 0.25 seconds and 10 seconds.