EXPANDABLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

• US 20130154818A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: WEYER, Holger
• Application Number:
  US13/710,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/586 Wired data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/816 Fastening of displays or touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/834 Docking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional 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 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/816 Fastening of displays or touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/834 Docking
• 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 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• 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 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable

Abstract

An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle is provided. The instrument cluster includes at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle. Here, the display instrument comprises devices for the mechanical fixing and for the electrical contacting of at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale. The present disclosure makes possible the simple upgrading of a motor vehicle with additional add-on instruments. Further embodiments provide that an add-on instrument can also be used as a vehicle key.

Claims

1. An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle; and

at least one add-on instrument,

wherein the at least one display instrument includes devices for the mechanical fixing and electrical coupling of the at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale.

2. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display instrument is a speedometer.

3. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument is selected from the group comprising:

a clock, a compass display, a tachometer, a kilometer counter, a tank display, a consumption display, a cooling water temperature display, an oil temperature display, an oil pressure display, a speedometer and a monitor.

4. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the electrical coupling supplies the add-on instrument with operating voltage.

5. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein via the electrical coupling display data are transmitted to the add-on instrument.

6. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument comprises an identification part individually assigned to the vehicle, which communicates with a central vehicle control unit and permits a starting of the motor vehicle only when the identification part has been identified by the vehicle control unit.

7. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein a data exchange between the motor vehicle and the at least one display instrument is effected wirelessly.

8. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein a data exchange between the motor vehicle and the add-on instrument is effected wirelessly.

9. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the add-on instrument further comprises at least one operating unit for a command input by a user.

10. The instrument cluster according to claim 1, wherein the device for the mechanical fixing is selected from the group comprising:

groove and tongue elements, engagement elements, bayonet elements, screw elements and magnet elements.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an instrument cluster including at least one display instrument with an annular segment-like display scale and a needle that displays a first type of data; and

at least one add-on instrument that displays a second type of data,

wherein the at least one display instrument includes devices for the mechanical fixing and electrical contacting of the at least one add-on instrument, which can be releasably attached within the display scale and the first type of data is different than the second type of data.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the at least one display instrument is a speedometer.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the add-on instrument is selected from the group comprising:

a clock, a compass display, a tachometer, a kilometer counter, a tank display, a consumption display, a cooling water temperature display, an oil temperature display, an oil pressure display and a monitor.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the electrical contacting supplies the add-on instrument with operating voltage.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein via the electrical contacting display data are transmitted to the add-on instrument.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the add-on instrument comprises an identification part individually assigned to the vehicle, which communicates with a central vehicle control unit and permits a starting of the motor vehicle only when the identification part has been identified by the vehicle control unit.