Method for displaying of the outside temperature in a motor vehicle

• US 5,737,243 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Wallrafen, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/800,288
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 364/557, 364/423.098, 340/449, 340/588, 374/102, 374/142, 374/144, 374/170, 236/91 F, 318/471, 318/473
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature

Abstract

A method for displaying the outside temperature within a motor vehicle in which measured values of the outside temperature are displayed with a greater time delay in the case of increasing temperature on an outside-temperature sensor than in the case of a decreasing temperature. In order to suppress erroneous display of the outside temperature, the time delay is varied as a function of the temperature of the engine.

Claims

1. A method for displaying outside temperature in a motor vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an outside-temperature sensor, and an engine-temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the outside temperature by means of said outside-temperature sensor;

displaying measured values of the outside temperature;

interposing a time delay between said measuring step and said displaying step;

selecting a first value of the time delay to be employed in said interposing step upon a decrease of the outside temperature, and selecting a second value of the time delay to be employed in said interposing step upon an increase of the outside temperature, said second value of time delay being greater than said first value of time delay; and

changing said second value of the time delay as a function of a temperature of the engine as sensed by the engine temperature sensor.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein,

in said changing step, the second value of time delay increases upon an increase in the temperature of the engine.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein,

the second value of the time delay increases proportionally with the temperature of the engine.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein

in said changing step, said second value of the time delay assumes a lower limit value up to a specific engine temperature.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of altering said second value of the time delay as a function of a speed of the vehicle upon an increase in temperature of the engine.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicular speed sensor, and

in said changing step, said second value of the time delay is decreased upon an increase in the speed of the vehicle as sensed by the vehicular speed sensor.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said changing step includes a step of determining the temperature of the engine with said engine temperature sensor by a measuring of a cooling water temperature of the vehicle.

8. A method for displaying outside temperature in a motor vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, an outside-temperature sensor, and an engine-temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring the outside temperature by means of said outside-temperature sensor;

displaying measured values of the outside temperature;

interposing a time delay between said measuring step and said displaying step;

selecting a first value of the time delay to be employed in said interposing step upon a decrease of the outside temperature, and selecting a second value of the time delay to be employed in said interposing step upon an increase the outside temperature; and

changing said second value of the time delay as a function of a temperature of the engine as sensed by the engine temperature sensor.

9. A system operative with a motor vehicle, and providing for measurement and display of temperature upon interposition of a time delay between measurement and display, the system comprising:

a first sensor for measuring temperature outside the vehicle;

a second sensor for measuring temperature of an engine of the vehicle;

a computer, and an analog-digital converter connecting said first sensor and said second sensor to said computer; and

wherein said computer is operated by a program having the steps of;

reading a measurement of the outside temperature;

providing a time delay subsequent to said reading step;

following said time delay, activating a display to display measured values of the outside temperature;

selecting a first value of the time delay to be employed in said providing step upon a decrease of the outside temperature, and selecting a second value of the time delay to be employed in said providing step upon an increase of the outside temperature, said second value of time delay being greater than said first value of time delay; and

changing said second value of the time delay as a function of the temperature of the engine.

10. A system operative with a motor vehicle, and providing for measurement and display of temperature upon interposition of a time delay between measurement and display, the system comprising:

a first sensor for measuring temperature outside the vehicle;

a second sensor for measuring temperature of an engine of the vehicle;

a computer, and an analog-digital converter connecting said first sensor and said second sensor to said computer; and

wherein said computer is operated by a program having the steps of;

reading a measurement of the outside temperature;

providing a time delay subsequent to said reading step;

following said time delay, activating a display to display measured values of the outside temperature;

selecting a first value of the time delay to be employed in said providing step upon a decrease of the outside temperature, and selecting a second value of the time delay to be employed in said providing step upon an increase of the outside temperature; and

changing said second value of the time delay as a function of the temperature of the engine.