Optical multiple output display system, particularly for automotive dashboards
First Claim
1. A low-interference multiple output optical display system with reduced cabling requirements, and thereby reduced exposure to electrical noise and crosstalk, to display values relating to the operation of a dynamic apparatus, particularly a motor vehicle, indicating operating parameters and conditions of the vehicle and its components, havingelectro-optical indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k) arranged in fixed positions on a panel (10) to display said values;
- a plurality of sensors (14a . . . 14j) providing sensor output signals representative of different respective operating, operation, and condition parameters;
a logic circuit (12) located remotely from said indicator blocks but in close proximity to said sensors, connected to and receiving said sensor output signals and providing signals for the indicators in dependence on the values of said sensor output signals,whereineach indicator block (15a . . . 15k) includes a plurality of indicator elements (16,
53) which are controllable by binary signals, the plurality of indicator elements of any one indicator block being combined to provide an output display of a selected operating condition parameters, and a shift register (17, 18;
50) in each indicator block and forming a structural unit therewith;
a single control signal conductor (21,
41) is provided, connecting the logic circuit (12) and at least a plurality of said indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k); and
said logic circuit is connected and arranged to provide a serial pulse train (Ta) over said single conductor (21,
41), forming an information pulse train being applied to said shift registers, said shift registers decoding the data carried by said pulse train, and hence the information forming the values to be indicated by the indicator elements, the indicator elements (16,
53) of the respective indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k) being associated with selected stages of the shift registers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To provide for optical indication of output values relating to the operating conditions, or other parameters for display on the dashboard of a display panel, for example on automotive vehicles, a display panel (10) has a plurality of indicating blocks (15a . . . 15k) distributed thereover. A logic circuit, for example provided by a micro-processor (12) supplies data over data busses (21, 41) to the respective indicating blocks, which can be connected in series (FIGS. 2, 4) or in parallel (FIGS. 5-7). The logic circuit is connected through suitable connecting lines (13) with sensor inputs, providing ambiant, or operation or operating data. The logic circuit, additionally, generates data of its own, for example time outputs. The indicating blocks each include a shift register (17, 18, 50) which is connected to a data line, the stages of the shift register being connected to respective indicating elements (16, 53) which, together, formed the indicating blocks--for example LCD elements--so that the shift state of the respective shift register will provide suitable output indications. For example, if a shift register has eight positions, and four sequential positions have a 1-signal and four other sequential positions have a zero-signal, a line can be displayed representative of half-full state of a fuel tank.
19 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A low-interference multiple output optical display system with reduced cabling requirements, and thereby reduced exposure to electrical noise and crosstalk, to display values relating to the operation of a dynamic apparatus, particularly a motor vehicle, indicating operating parameters and conditions of the vehicle and its components, having
electro-optical indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k) arranged in fixed positions on a panel (10) to display said values; -
a plurality of sensors (14a . . . 14j) providing sensor output signals representative of different respective operating, operation, and condition parameters; a logic circuit (12) located remotely from said indicator blocks but in close proximity to said sensors, connected to and receiving said sensor output signals and providing signals for the indicators in dependence on the values of said sensor output signals, wherein each indicator block (15a . . . 15k) includes a plurality of indicator elements (16,
53) which are controllable by binary signals, the plurality of indicator elements of any one indicator block being combined to provide an output display of a selected operating condition parameters, and a shift register (17, 18;
50) in each indicator block and forming a structural unit therewith;a single control signal conductor (21,
41) is provided, connecting the logic circuit (12) and at least a plurality of said indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k); andsaid logic circuit is connected and arranged to provide a serial pulse train (Ta) over said single conductor (21,
41), forming an information pulse train being applied to said shift registers, said shift registers decoding the data carried by said pulse train, and hence the information forming the values to be indicated by the indicator elements, the indicator elements (16,
53) of the respective indicator blocks (15a . . . 15k) being associated with selected stages of the shift registers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification