Digital indicating installation for motor vehicles

• US 4,317,106 A
• Filed: 08/11/1978
• Issued: 02/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Huber, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/932,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/53, 340/62, 340/501, 364/424, 364/426, 364/442, 364/551, 364/561, 364/569, 73/117.3, 73/116, 58/152 R, 58/152 B, 58/152 E, 180/77 R, 235/92 CT, 235/92 EA, 235/92 PE, 237/2 A, 368/6, 368/10, 368/11
• US Class Current: 340/462
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/10 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

A digital indicating installation for vehicles which selectively reproduces several function values within an indicating field; by actuating one of several switches, the reproduction of a first function value is interrupted for a predetermined time and a further function value coordinated to the switch is reproduced in the meantime within the indicating field.

Claims

1. A digital indicating installation for vehicles having means for generating a first function value and at least one further function value and which selectively displays several function values in a single indicating field comprising display means responsive to the generating means for normally displaying the first function value in the indicating field, and at least one switch means operable during the actuation thereof to interrupt the display of the first function value for a fixed predetermined time, the display means being responsive to operation of the at least one switch means for displaying in the indicating field during the fixed predetermined time a single further function value coordinated to the at least one switch means and for automatically displaying in the indicating field the first function value after the expiration of the fixed predetermined time, and further comprising means responsive to the actuation of the at least one switch means for initiating a switching command and enabling a numerical value to be displayed in the indicating field in accordance with subsequent actuation of the at least one switch means.

2. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switch means includes pushbutton switch means and switching contact means.

3. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the first function value is time and the further function value includes at least one of operating-, distance-, measurement and switching-data.

4. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of further function values is provided and include operating-, distance-, measurement and switching-data.

5. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the display means includes storage means for storing a further function value and recall means coordinated to the at least one switch means for recalling the further function value from the storage means for display in the indicating field.

6. An indicating installation according to claim 5, wherein the storage means includes a fixed value storage means, and further comprising means coordinated with the at least one switch means for enabling erasing of the further function value in the fixed value storage means and the storage of a new function value in the fixed value storage means during the actuation of the at least one switch means.

7. An indicating installation according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the storage means includes a variable value storage means and further comprising means for automatically changing the contents of the variable value storage means.

8. An indicating installation according to claim 7, wherein the automatic content changing means automatically changes the content of the variable value storage means automatically as a function of time.

9. An indicating installation according to claim 7, wherein the automatic content changing means automatically changes the content of the variable value storage means as a function of travel distance.

10. An indicating installation according to claim 1 comprising automatic control means for actuating the at least one switch means to provide automatic interruption of the display of the first function value for a fixed period of time.

11. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the automatic control means actuates the at least one switch means substantially upon reaching a predetermined limit value.

12. An indicating installation according to claim 11, wherein the automatic control means actuates the at least one switch means upon exceeding a predetermined limit value.

13. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the automatic control means automatically actuates the at least one switch means in regular time intervals.

14. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the switching command means initiates the unlocking of a theft protection means prior to the start of a drive and the numerical value is a code number.

15. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the switching command means initiates the switching time of a stationary heating means and the numerical value is the value of the switching time.

16. An indicating installation according to claim 15, wherein the switching command means enables the setting up of a departure time as a numerical value and the switching time of the stationary heating means is advanced with respect to the departure time.

17. An indicating installation according to claim 16, further comprising means for sensing ambient temperature and for triggering the switching time automatically in dependence on the ambient temperature.

18. An indicating installation according to claim 17, wherein the switching command means enables increasing advancement of the switching time with respect to the departure time in accordance with a decreasing temperature.

19. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the switching command means enables the initiation of a warning indication at a predetermined distance prior to reaching a destination set-up as a numerical value.

20. An indicating installation according to claim 10, wherein the switching command means enables the triggering of a warning indication upon exceeding a limit velocity set-up as a numerical value.

21. An indicating installation according to claim 10, further comprising indicating light means coordinated to the at least one switch means, the indicating light means being energized together with the indication of the function value coordinated to the at least one switch means.

22. An indicating installation according to claim 21, wherein the light means is a diode.

23. An indicating installation according to claim 21, wherein the indicating light means is automatically controlled in dependence on the function value coordinated to the at least one switch means.

24. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the switching command means initiates the unlocking of a theft protection means prior to the start of a drive and the numerical value is a code number.

25. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the switching command means initiates the switching time of a stationary heating means and the numerical value is the value of the switching time.

26. An indicating installation according to claim 25, wherein the switching command means enables the setting up of a departure time as a numerical value and the switching time of the stationary heating means is advanced with respect to the departure time.

27. An indicating installation according to claim 26, further comprising means for sensing ambient temperature and for triggering the switching time automatically in dependence on the ambient temperature.

28. An indicating installation according to claim 27, wherein the switching command means enables increasing advancement of the switching time with respect to the departure time in accordance with a decreasing temperature.

29. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the switching command means enables the initiation of a warning indication at a predetermined distance prior to reaching a destination set-up as a numerical value.

30. An indicating installation according to claim 1, wherein the switching command means enables the triggering of a warning indication upon exceeding a limit velocity set-up as a numerical value.

31. An indicating installation according to claim 1, further comprising indicating light means coordinated to the at least one switch means, the indicating light means being energized with the indication of the function value coordinated to the at least one switch means.

32. An indicating installation according to claim 31, wherein the indicating light means is automatically controlled in dependence on the function value coordinated to the at least one switch means.

33. An indicating installation according to claim 32, wherein the at least one switch means includes a plurality of switch means and the indicating light means includes a plurality of indicating light means, a respective indicating light means being coordinated with a respective switch means.

34. An indicating installation according to claim 32, comprising automatic control means for actuating the at least one switch means to provide automatic interruption of the display of the first function value for a fixed time.

35. An indicating installation according to claim 34, wherein the automatic control means actuates the at least one switch means substantially upon reaching a predetermined limit value.

36. An indicating installation according to claim 34, wherein the automatic control means actuates the at least one switch means upon exceeding a predetermined limit value.

37. An indicating installation according to claim 34, wherein the automatic control means automatically actuates the at least one switch means in regular time intervals.