WIRELESS PROGRAMMABLE CLUSTER

• US 20140167943A1
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Chvez Yanez, Matt Zelik Jonatn
• Application Number:
  US14/107,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20140167943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/55 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/589 Wireless
• 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 35/60 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 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/02 Arrangement of instruments arrangement of lighting devices for dashboards B60Q3/10

Abstract

A disclosed instrument cluster assembly for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of instruments for displaying information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter, at least one memory device for storing data utilized for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters and a controller in communication with the plurality instruments and the at least one memory device for controlling operation and display of information indicative of the vehicle operating parameter. A wireless communication device is included and is in communication with both the controller and memory device for receiving data through a wireless connection that is utilized by one of the controller and the at least one memory device for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters.

Claims

1. A method of programming an instrument cluster assembly comprising:

receiving a wireless transmission including data utilized for generating information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter; and

storing the data utilized for generating information indicative of the vehicle operating parameter in a memory device in communication with the instrument cluster assembly.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, including transmitting a radio frequency transmission including the data with a programming device physically separated from the instrument cluster assembly.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, including erasing existing data stored in the memory device responsive to a command received as a wireless signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, including a controller a communicating with a plurality of instruments of the instrument cluster assembly for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters utilizing the data received from the wireless transmission.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, including an interface between an antenna receiving the data and a memory device, wherein the interface generates signals utilized by an integrated circuit of the controller from the data received through the wireless transmission.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the memory device includes an electrically erasable programmable read only memory and the wireless transmission comprises a radio frequency transmission.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, including converting the radio frequency signal with the interface to information in a form compatible with the memory device.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, including flash reprogramming a previously programmed memory device through a radio frequency signal that includes data utilized for generating information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the instrument cluster assembly comprises a plurality of instrument cluster assemblies with a corresponding plurality of memory devices and flash reprogramming the plurality of memory devise with the radio frequency signal.

10. An instrument cluster assembly comprising:

a plurality of instruments for displaying information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter;

at least one memory device for storing data utilized for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters;

a controller in communication with the plurality instruments and the at least one memory device for controlling operation and display of information indicative of the vehicle operating parameter; and

a wireless communication device for receiving data through a wireless connection that is utilized by one of the controller and the at least one memory device for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters.

11. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a printed circuit board that includes a radio frequency antenna for receiving the data utilized for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters.

12. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the wireless communication device includes a receiver for receiving a radio frequency transmission including the data and an interface for converting the data from the radio frequency transmission into a form stored in the memory device and utilized by the controller.

13. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the antenna comprises a trace integrally formed on the printed circuit board.

14. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board is supported within the instrument cluster assembly.

15. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein the data includes information utilized for determining the units of the information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter.

16. The instrument cluster assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the data includes information utilized for generating a value indicative of a vehicle operating parameter.

17. A system for flash reprogramming an instrument cluster assembly comprising:

an instrument cluster assembly including a plurality of instruments for communicating information indicative of a vehicle operating parameter;

an electronically erasable read only memory (EEPROM) device supported within an instrument cluster assembly;

a controller in communication with the plurality instruments and the EEPROM; and

a wireless interface receiving a radio frequency RF signal including data stored in the EEPROM and utilized by the controller for generating information indicative of vehicle operating parameters.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, including a transmitting device for transmitting the RF signal for flash reprogramming the EEPROM.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the wireless interface includes an antenna integrally formed as part of a printed circuit board supported within the instrument cluster assembly.