DRIVER INTERFACE FOR A VEHICLE COMBINATION METER

• US 20150234580A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Secord, Nathaniel J., Brendible, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US14/180,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20150234580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/02 Signalling devices actuated by tyre pressure hand-held tyre pressure gauges G01L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/151 Instrument output devices for configurable output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• 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 35/28 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: B60T 2210/16 Off-road driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 2009/066 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A computing device and methods for operating a driver interface for a vehicle combination meter are disclosed. One example method includes receiving, from a driver, an indication of an icon selection. The icon can represent the vehicle combination meter. The method further includes sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the indication selecting the icon for the vehicle combination meter, vehicle status information associated with a first vehicle system. The first vehicle system can be associated with off-road operation of a vehicle. The method further includes receiving, from the driver, an indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information and sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a second vehicle system. The second vehicle system can be associated with off-road operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying a driver interface for a vehicle combination meter, comprising:

receiving, from a driver, an indication of an icon selection, the icon representing the vehicle combination meter;

sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the indication selecting the icon for the vehicle combination meter, vehicle status information associated with a first vehicle system, the first vehicle system associated with off-road operation of a vehicle;

receiving, from the driver, an indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a second vehicle system, the second vehicle system associated with off-road operation of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle system is an inclination measurement system and the vehicle status information associated with the first vehicle system includes vehicle pitch and vehicle roll measurements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle system is a traction control system and the vehicle status information associated with the second vehicle system includes a terrain setting for the traction control system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle system is an acceleration and braking system and the vehicle status information associated with the second vehicle system includes a crawl speed setting for the acceleration and braking system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication requesting navigation within the driver interface is a first indication, further comprising:

receiving, from the driver, a second indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the second indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a third vehicle system, the third vehicle system associated with at least one of off-road operation of the vehicle and towing operation of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third vehicle system is a trailer brake control system and the vehicle status information associated with the third vehicle system includes at least one of trailer presence and trailer gain level and trailer gain type.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, from the driver, a third indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

sending, for display in the driver interface and in response to the third indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a fourth vehicle system, the fourth vehicle system associated with at least one of off-road operation and towing operation of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fourth vehicle system is a tire pressure monitoring system and the vehicle status information associated with the fourth vehicle system includes at least one of a tire pressure level and a low-tire pressure alert.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon representing the vehicle combination meter is displayed within a vehicle interface proximate to a plurality of driver-selectable icons.

10. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors for controlling the operations of the computing device; and

a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

receive, from a driver, an indication of an icon selection, the icon representing a vehicle combination meter;

send, for display in a driver interface and in response to the indication selecting the icon for the vehicle combination meter, vehicle status information associated with a first vehicle system, the first vehicle system associated with off-road operation of a vehicle;

receive, from the driver, an indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

send, for display in the driver interface and in response to the indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a second vehicle system, the second vehicle system associated with off-road operation of the vehicle.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the first vehicle system is an inclination measurement system and the vehicle status information associated with the first vehicle system includes vehicle pitch and vehicle roll measurements.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second vehicle system is a traction control system and the vehicle status information associated with the second vehicle system includes a terrain setting for the traction control system.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second vehicle system is an acceleration and braking system and the vehicle status information associated with the second vehicle system includes a crawl speed setting for the acceleration and braking system.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the indication requesting navigation within the driver interface is a first indication and the processors are further configured to:

receive, from the driver, a second indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

send, for display in the driver interface and in response to the second indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a third vehicle system, the third vehicle system associated with at least one of off-road operation of the vehicle and towing operation of the vehicle.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the third vehicle system is a trailer brake control system and the vehicle status information associated with the third vehicle system includes at least one of trailer presence and trailer gain level and trailer gain type.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processors are further configured to:

receive, from the driver, a third indication requesting navigation within the driver interface to additional vehicle status information; and

send, for display in the driver interface and in response to the third indication requesting navigation within the driver interface, vehicle status information associated with a fourth vehicle system, the fourth vehicle system associated with at least one of off-road operation and towing operation of the vehicle.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the fourth vehicle system is a tire pressure monitoring system and the vehicle status information associated with the fourth vehicle system includes at least one of a tire pressure level and a low-tire pressure alert.

18. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the icon representing the vehicle combination meter is displayed within a vehicle interface proximate to a plurality of driver-selectable icons.