Configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster

• US 6,441,726 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Klemish, Melissa Marie, Voto, Andrew Michael, Selby, Ronald Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US09/541,563
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/461, 340/459, 340/441, 340/519, 340/815.45, 340/525, 340/462, 345/273, 345/7, 345/117
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, including: selection apparatus to select desired characteristics of individual gage elements of the vehicle instrument cluster; illumination apparatus to illuminate the individual gage elements in accordance with selections made by the selection apparatus; and control apparatus operatively connected to the selection apparatus and to the illumination apparatus to receive the selections made by the selection apparatus and to furnish instructions to the illumination apparatus.

Claims

1. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, comprising:

(a) selection means to select desired characteristics of individual gage elements of said vehicle instrument cluster;

(b) illumination means to illuminate said individual gage elements in accordance with selections made by said selection means; and

(c) control means operatively connected to said selection means and to said illumination means to receive said selections made by said selection means and to furnish instructions to said illumination means.

2. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a parameter corresponding to an individual gage.

3. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, where:

said selection means includes means to select an individual gage element.

4. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a hardcoded warning scheme.

5. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a range for a warning band.

6. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a color for one of said individual gage elements.

7. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a sequence of colors for one of said individual gage elements, said colors to change as a value of a measured parameter changes.

8. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select whether a color of one of said individual gage elements is to flash or to be solid.

9. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said configurable warning system can be configured to provide transitionally increased illumination of an individual gage element.

10. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means is responsive to audible commands.

11. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said selection means is operable by a user of said vehicle.

12. In combination with a vehicle, a configurable warning system for an instrument cluster disposed in said vehicle, comprising:

(a) selection means to select desired characteristics of individual gage elements of said vehicle instrument cluster;

(b) illumination means to illuminate said individual gage elements in accordance with selections made by said selection means; and

(c) control means operatively connected to said selection means and to said illumination means to receive said selections made by said selection means and to furnish instructions to said illumination means.

13. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a parameter corresponding to an individual gage.

14. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select an individual gage element.

15. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a hardcoded warning scheme.

16. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a range for a warning band.

17. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a color for one of said individual gage elements.

18. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select a sequence of colors for one of said individual gage elements, said colors to change as a value of a measured parameter changes.

19. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means includes means to select whether a color of one of said individual gage elements is to flash or to be solid.

20. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said vehicle instrument cluster can be configured to provide transitionally increased illumination of an individual gage area.

21. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means is responsive to audible commands.

22. A configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said selection means is operable by a user of said vehicle.