Method for displaying primary and secondary information

• US 6,654,024 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Völkel, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, GREGORY F
• Application Number:
  US09/652,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 280/248, 280/752, 296/71, 345/441, 345/589, 345/619, 345/629, 345/672, 345/681
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

In a method for displaying primary and secondary information in a motor vehicle by reproducing symbols on a display, the symbols are shown with different brightnesses according to their importance. Their brightness is changed as the importance of the information changes.

Claims

1. A method for displaying directional information in a vehicle navigation system comprising:

(a) displaying a primary information symbol that identifies the current direction of travel of the vehicle;

(b) illuminating the primary symbol to a preselected and constant level of brightness;

(c) displaying a secondary information symbol that identifies a prospective change to be made in the current direction of travel by the vehicle when it reaches a preselected location;

(d) initially illuminating the secondary symbol to a preselected level of brightness that is less than the level of brightness of the primary symbol;

(e) progressively increasing the level of brightness of the secondary symbol from the initial level to a final level equivalent to that of the primary symbol as the vehicle approaches the location at which the prospective change in direction is to be effected; and

(f) extinguishing both primary and secondary information symbols when the change in direction is effected and thereafter displaying a new primary information symbol.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, as the brightness of the secondary symbol increases, the secondary symbol is displayed physically closer to the primary information symbol.