CLUSTER-RADIO INFORMATION INTERCHANGE SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE EXPERIENCE

• US 20160054967A1
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Cota Gonzlez, Miguel Ernesto, Felipe de Jess, Romero Gonzlez, Gallardo Gutierrez, Paulina, Luevanous Pea, Fernando, Cervantes Romero, Amilcar
• Granted Patent: US 10,216,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/115 Selection of menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/29 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/45 for FM stereophonic broadcast systems receiving

Abstract

A display system for a vehicle includes an instrument cluster having a cluster display constructed and arranged, in a default cluster mode of operation, to display vehicle operating information. A radio display is separate from and disposed generally adjacent to the cluster display. The radio display is constructed and arranged, in a default radio mode of operation, to display media information. A controller is in communication with the cluster display and with the radio display. The controller is constructed and arranged, based on an input, to cause the media information to be shown on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation. Simultaneously, the operating information can be shown on the radio display in place of the radio information.

Claims

1. A display system for a vehicle comprising:

an instrument cluster including a cluster display constructed and arranged, in a default cluster mode of operation, to display vehicle operating information,

a radio display separate from and disposed generally adjacent to the cluster display, the radio display being constructed and arranged, in a default radio mode of operation, to display media information, and

a controller in communication with the cluster display and radio display and constructed and arranged, based on an input, to cause the media information to be shown on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein based on the input, the controller unit is constructed and arranged to cause the operating information to be shown on the radio display in place of the media information displayed during the default radio mode of operation, while simultaneously causing the media information to be shown on the cluster display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein radio display is a touch screen operated display constructed and arranged to be contacted by a user, defining the input.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the input is defined as a button activated switch.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the switch is disposed on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein based on the input, the controller is constructed and arranged to cause the media information to be shown on the radio display while simultaneously causing the media information to be shown on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein based on the input, the controller is constructed and arranged to cause a blank screen to appear on the radio display while simultaneously causing the media information to be shown on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument cluster includes a speedometer and a tachometer, each separate from the cluster display, and each being constructed and arranged to remain visible on the instrument cluster while the media information is displayed on the cluster display.

9. A method of controlling displayed information in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an instrument cluster including a cluster display,

displaying vehicle operating information on the cluster display during a default cluster mode of operation,

providing a radio display separate from the cluster display,

displaying media information on the radio display during a default radio mode of operation,

providing an input, and

based on the input, showing the media information on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the during a default cluster mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, the method further includes:

based on the input, showing the operating information on the radio display in place of the media information displayed during the default radio mode of operation, while simultaneously showing the media information on the cluster display.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein radio display is a touch screen operated display and the step of providing an input includes contacting the touch screen by a user.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing an input includes activating a switch.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of activating a switch includes engaging a button disposed on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes:

based on the input, showing the media information on the radio display while simultaneously showing the media information on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes:

based on the input, showing a blank screen on the radio display while simultaneously showing the media information on the cluster display in place of the operating information displayed during the default cluster mode of operation.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the instrument cluster includes a speedometer and a tachometer, each separate from the cluster display, the method further includes:

displaying the tachometer and speedometer on the instrument cluster while the media information is displayed on the cluster display.

17. The method of claim 9, further including:

providing a second input, and

based on the second input, returning to the default radio mode of operation by showing the media information on the radio display.