Caution/warning system for displaying system malfunctions/faults in a night-time viewing mode

• US 6,259,981 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilcosky, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/334,963
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/34, 340/500, 340/459, 340/461, 340/462
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for indicating abnormal conditions associated with certain parameters related to the operation of a vehicle or marine vessel during a night-time viewing mode. A plurality of sensors sense a plurality of parameter levels and responsively produce a plurality of sensor signals indicative of the different levels of An electronic controller is coupled to the sensors for receiving signals therefrom. A display or indicator mechanism displays normal or abnormal conditions associated with a sensed parameter when the level of a sensed parameter is equal to a predetermined level. The controller displays on the display or indicator mechanism a warning to the operator indicative of an abnormal condition associated with any one of the sensed parameters. The controller increases the illumination level of the warning given to the operator when the display or indicator mechanism is being operated in a night-time viewing mode.

Claims

1. A system for indicating warning conditions associated with certain parameters related to the operation of a vehicle, said system comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a certain parameter associated with the operation of the vehicle, said sensor sensing a plurality of levels of said parameter and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals indicative of the different levels of said parameter;

control means coupled to said at least one sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said control means being operable to receive signals from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to a predetermined level; and

display means for displaying a warning condition associated with the sensed parameter when the level of said sensed parameter is equal to said predetermined level, said display means being operable at a first illumination level during day-time operations and at a second illumination level during night-time operations, said first illumination level being greater than said second illumination level;

said control means being operable to display a warning condition associated with the sensed parameter on said display means when said control means receives a signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to said predetermined level;

said control means being further operable to increase the illumination level of said display means when a warning condition is displayed thereon and when said display means is being operated at said second illumination level.

2. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the increase in the illumination level of said display means occurs after expiration of a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being measured from the initial display of said warning condition.

3. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the illumination level of said display means is incrementally increased a plurality of times from said second illumination level to a third illumination level, each incremental increase of said illumination level occurring after expiration of a predetermined period of time, each predetermined period of time being measured from the last incremental increase of said illumination level.

4. The system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said third illumination level is equal to said first illumination level.

5. The system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each predetermined period of time between each incremental increase of said illumination level is substantially the same.

6. The system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least some of said predetermined periods of time between incremental increases of said illumination level are of a different time duration.

7. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a marine vessel.

8. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes an LCD screen.

9. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes gauge means for indicating a level of the sensed parameter.

10. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes a warning light.

11. A system for indicating warning conditions associated with certain parameters related to the operation of a vehicle, said system comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a certain parameter associated with the operation of the vehicle, said sensor sensing a plurality of levels of said parameter and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals indicative of the different levels of said parameter;

control means coupled to said at least one sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said control means being operable to receive signals from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to a predetermined level; and

indicator means for displaying a warning condition associated with the sensed parameter when the level of said sensed parameter is equal to said predetermined level, said indicator means being operable at a first illumination level during day-time operations and at a second illumination level during night-time operations, said first illumination level being greater than said second illumination level;

said control means being operable to illuminate said indicator means when said control means receives a signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to said predetermined level;

said control means being further operable to increase the illumination level of said indicator means when said indicator means is being operated at said second illumination level.

12. The system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said indicator means includes gauge means for indicating a level of the sensed parameter, said gauge means including a portion thereof operable for displaying a warning condition associated with the sensed parameter, said gauge portion being illuminated when said control means receives a signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to said predetermined level.

13. The system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the portion of said gauge means operable for displaying a warning condition includes a digital display of the sensed parameter, and means for displaying the sensed parameter in a digital form on said digital display when said control means receives a signal from said at least one sensor indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to said predetermined level, said control means being operable to increase the illumination level of said digital display when said indicator means is being operated at said second illumination level.

14. The system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said indicator means includes a warning light.

15. The system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said indicator means includes an LCD screen.

16. The system, as set forth in claim 11, further including an operator interface device for enabling the operator to take a predetermined action in response to illumination of said indicator means, said control means being coupled to said operator interface device for receiving signals therefrom, said control means being further operable to return the illumination level of said indicator means to said second illumination level when said control means receives a signal from said operator interface device indicative of the predetermined action having been taken by the operator in response to the increased illumination level of said indicator means.

17. An apparatus for indicating abnormal conditions associated with a plurality of sensed parameters related to the operation of a vehicle or marine vessel, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of parameter levels and responsively producing a plurality of sensor signals indicative of the different levels of said parameters;

an electronic controller coupled to said plurality of sensors for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being operable to receive a signal from each of said sensors indicative of the level of each of said sensed parameters being equal to a predetermined level; and

display means coupled to said controller for displaying the abnormal conditions associated with said sensed parameters when the level of each of said sensed parameters is equal to its corresponding predetermined level, said display means being operable at a first illumination level during day-time operations and at a second illumination level during night-time operations, said first illumination level being greater than said second illumination level;

said controller being operable to display on said display means a warning to the operator of the vehicle/marine vessel indicative of an abnormal condition associated with any one of said sensed parameters when said controller receives a signal from any one of said sensors indicative of the level of said sensed parameter being equal to its corresponding predetermined level;

said controller being further operable to increase the illumination level of the warning given to the operator on said display means when said display means is being operated at said second illumination level.

18. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the increase in the illumination level of said warning on said display means occurs after expiration of a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time being measured from the initial display of said warning.

19. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the illumination level of said warning displayed on said display means is incrementally increased from said second illumination level to a third illumination level, each incremental increase of said illumination level occurring after expiration of a predetermined period of time, each predetermined period of time being measured from the last incremental increase of said illumination level.

20. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said display means includes a plurality of gauges for indicating a level of the sensed parameters, each of said gauges including a portion thereof operable for displaying a warning to the operator associated with the sensed parameter, said gauge portion being illuminated in response to an abnormal condition for a particular sensed parameter.

21. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the entire gauge is illuminated in response to an abnormal condition for the particular sensed parameter.

22. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the warning given to the operator on said display means includes a warning light.

23. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the illumination level of the entire display means is increased when said controller receives a signal from any one of said sensors indicative of an abnormal condition for that particular sensed parameter.

24. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 17, further including an operator interface device for enabling the operator to take a predetermined action in response to the display of a warning on said display means, said controller being coupled to said operator interface device for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being further operable to return the illumination level of the warning on said display means to said second illumination level when said controller receives a signal from said operator interface device indicative of the predetermined action having been taken by the operator in response to the increased illumination level of the warning on said display means.