Automotive priority message display

• US 4,072,924 A
• Filed: 05/12/1975
• Issued: 02/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Pomerantz, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/576,617
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 340/27, 340/52 F, 340/21, 340/324 B, 340/337, 340/373, 340/378 R, 340/412, 340/414, 340/325, 180/103 R, 307/10 R, 325/304, 328/147, 328/148, 328/160
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

A system displays messages one at a time to inform a vehicle operator of malfunctions or other events occurring in a vehicle with priority being given to the event of most importance whenever more than one event is sensed concurrently. A display device then selects messages for display and code switches are actuated to provide a unique electrical code signal for each message to indicate to the system which message is selected at a given moment. A number of sensors in the vehicle each respond to an event and an electrical sensor signal of unique value is provided for actuation of each sensor switch. A circuit compares the code signal with the sensor signal to drive the display device to select another message when the two signals are not in harmony and to display the selected message when the two signals are in harmony. A provision is made to render a sensor switch ineffective to affect the sensor signal when a sensor switch of higher priority is concurrently actuated.

Claims

1. A system for singly indicating the occurrence of any of a plurality of events in a motor vehicle and for indicating only the event of most significance when more than one event occurs concurrently, comprising

a display device for selecting messages for display and for singly displaying messages corresponding to the events,

code means controlled by the display device for producing a first electrical signal having a different voltage magnitude for each selected message,

a plurality of sensors each comprising a switch actuated in response to an event,

means for producing a second electrical signal in response to sensor actuation, the voltage magnitude of the second signal for each sensor being distinctive and having a predetermined correspondence to the magnitude of the first electrical signal for the message appropriate to the sensed event, the magnitudes of the second electrical signal being arranged in order of priority of the significance of the events, and including means for preferentially producing the signal magnitude of highest priority when a plurality of sensors are actuated concurrently,

and voltage level comparator means comparing the first and second electrical signals to determine correspondence between the selected message and the sensed event of highest priority and for controlling the display device to select and display the message corresponding to the sensed event of highest priority.

2. A system for singly indicating the ocurrence of any of a plurality of events in a motor vehicle and for indicating only the event of most significance when more than one event occurs concurrently, comprising

a display device for selecting messages for display and for singly displaying messages corresponding to the events,

code means controlled by the display device for producing a first electrical signal having a different value for each selected message,

a plurality of normally open sensor switches each closed in response to an event and each having a different priority according to the significance of the event,

an array of resistors connected in series at junction points and having one end of the array connected through a voltage dropping resistor to a power supply, the sensor switches being connected in order of priority between the junction points and ground with the highest priority sensor switch connected to the junction point nearest the said one of the array, so that closure of a sensor switch develops a second electrical signal having a unique value corresponding to the value of the first electrical signal for the message denoting the sensed event and whereby the concurrent closure of other switches of lower priority has no effect on the value of the second electrical signal,

and means comparing the first and second electrical signals to determine correspondence between the selected message and the sensed event of highest priority and for controlling the display device to select and display the message corresponding to the sensed event of highest priority.

3. A system for singly indicating the occurrence of any of a plurality of events in a motor vehicle and for indicating only the event of most significance when more than one event occurs concurrently, comprising

a display device operated by a motor for sequentially selecting messages for display and means including a display lamp for singly displaying messages corresponding to the events,

code means controlled by the display device for producing a first electrical signal having a different voltage for each selected message,

a plurality of normally open sensor switches each closed in response to an event and each having a different priority according to the significance of the event,

an array of resistors connected in series at junction points and having one end of the array connected through a voltage dropping resistor to a power supply, the sensor switches being connected in order of priority between the junction points and ground with the highest priority sensor switch connected to the junction point nearest the said one end of the array, so that closure of a sensor switch develops a second electrical signal having a unique voltage substantially equal to the voltage of the first electrical signal for the message denoting the sensed event and whereby the concurrent closure of other switches of lower priority have no effect on the voltage of the second electrical signal, and

a comparison circuit for comparing the voltages of the first and second electrical signals for operating the motor to sequentially select messages when the two voltages are substantially different, and for stopping the motor when the two voltages are substantially equal, thereby indicating that the selected message corresponds to the highest priority closed sensor switch,

and a circuit activated when a sensor switch is closed and the motor is stopped for illuminating the display lamp to display the selected message.