Speedometer display and method for motor vehicles

• US 6,844,811 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coato Workshop, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coato Workshop, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayashi, Toshiaki, Murdock, Robert S., Petras, Peter, Fujikawa, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/087,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/438, 340/439, 340/459, 340/462, 340/425.5, 340/815.4, 340/441, 116/62.1, 116/62.2, 116/62.3, 116/252, 116/299, 73/13.7, 734/88
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions

Abstract

A graphical display apparatus (and methods) for motor vehicles. The apparatus has a display coupled to an interior portion of a motor vehicle, which faces a driver of the motor vehicle. The display is coupled to an output for identifying a velocity value of the motor vehicle. A first graphical display portion of the display for outputting a first current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a first convention is also included. The first display portion for the current speed indication is coupled to the output. A second graphical display portion of the display for outputting a second current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a second convention is included. The second display portion is coupled to the first display portion such that the first current speed indication in the first convention is aligned to the second current speed indication in the second convention.

Claims

1. A graphical display apparatus for motor vehicles, the display comprising:

a display coupled to an interior portion of a motor vehicle and facing a driver of the motor vehicle, the display being coupled to an output for identifying a velocity value of the motor vehicle;

a first graphical display portion of the display for outputting a first current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a first convention, the first graphical display portion for the first current speed indication being coupled to the output; and

a second graphical display portion of the display for outputting a second current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a second convention, the second graphical display portion being coupled to the first graphical display portion such that the first current speed indication in the first convention is aligned to the second current speed indication in the second convention;

wherein the first graphical display portion comprises a first annular structure that appears to revolve about a fixed axis and displays the current speed indication on the first annular structure, and

the second graphical display portion comprises a second annular structure that appears to revolve about the fixed axis and displays the second current speed indication on the second annular structure,

wherein a diameter of the first annular structure is larger than a diameter of the second annular structure,

lower speed values appear on the first graphical display portion as the first annular structure appears to revolve in a first direction, and higher speed values appear on the first graphical display portion as the first annular structure appears to revolve in a second direction,

lower speed values appear on the second graphical display portion as the second annular structure appears to revolve in the first direction, and higher speed values appear on the second graphical display portion as the second annular structure appears to revolve in the second direction, and

the first annular structure and the second annular structure appear to revolve at the same rotational speed.

2. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first convention is miles per hour and the second convention is kilometers per hour.

3. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication is larger in size than the second current speed indication.

4. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the display is selected from a CRT, a flat panel display, an active matrix display, or a plasma display.

5. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile.

6. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the second graphical display portion is external to the first graphical display portion.

7. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication is among a range of speeds from zero to greater than 100 miles per hour.

8. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the second current speed indication is among a range of speeds from zero to 200 kilometers per hour.

9. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first current speed indication and the second current speed indication are displayed simultaneously.

10. The graphical display of claim 1 wherein the first annular structure is centered in the display.

11. The graphical display of claim 10 wherein the second annular structure is offset from the center of the display.

12. A method for displaying engine characteristics of motor vehicles, the method comprising:

receiving a velocity information from an interface coupled to an engine of an operating motor vehicle, the velocity information corresponding to only one of a plurality of velocities ranging from zero to greater than 100, the velocity information corresponding to one of the plurality of velocities of the operating motor vehicle at a present time of receiving the velocity information;

converting the velocity information into a velocity display format; and

displaying using a first annular configuration a first velocity indication in a first convention giving an appearance of rotation about a fixed axis based upon the velocity display format, the first velocity indication being one of the velocities based upon the velocity;

information of the operating motor vehicle and being displayed on the annular configuration, and

displaying using a second annular configuration a second velocity indication in a second convention giving an appearance of rotation about the fixed axis based upon the velocity display format, the first velocity indication being coupled to the second velocity indication,

wherein a diameter of the first annular configuration is larger than a diameter of the second annular configuration,

lower speed values appear on the first annular configuration as the first annular configuration appears to revolve in a first direction, and higher speed values appear on the first annular configuration as the first annular structure appears to revolve in a second direction,

lower speed values appear on the second annular configuration as the annular configuration appears to revolve in the first direction, and higher speed values appear on the annular configuration as the annular configuration appears to revolve in the second direction, and

the first annular configuration and the second annular configuration appear to revolve at the same rotational speed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the velocity indication shows speed of the motor vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the annular configuration is oriented in a vertical manner.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first convention is miles per hour.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the fixed axis is perpendicular to the annular configuration.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the first velocity indication-is displayed simultaneously with the second velocity indication.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first convention is miles per hour and the second convention is kilometers per hour.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the first annular configuration is centered in the display, and the second annular configuration is offset from the center of the display.

20. A graphical display apparatus for motor vehicles, the display comprising:

a display coupled to an interior portion of a motor vehicle and facing a driver of the motor vehicle, the display being coupled to an output for identifying a velocity value of the motor vehicle;

a first graphical display portion of the display for outputting a first current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a first convention, the first graphical display portion for the first current speed indication being coupled to the output; and

a second graphical display portion of the display for outputting a second current speed indication of the motor vehicle using a second convention, the second graphical display portion being coupled to the first graphical display portion such that the first current speed indication in the first convention is aligned to the second current speed indication in the second convention;

wherein the first current speed indication is a first annular structure that appears to revolve about a fixed axis;

the second current speed indication is a second annular structure that appears to revolve about the fixed axis,

a diameter of the first annular structure is larger than a diameter of the second annular structure,

lower speed values appear on the first graphical display portion as the first annular structure appears to revolve in a first direction, and higher speed values appear on the first graphical display portion as the first annular structure appears to revolve in a second direction,

lower speed values appear on the second graphical display portion as the second annular structure appears to revolve in the first direction, and higher speed values appear on the second graphical display portion as the second annular structure appears to revolve in the second direction,

the first annular structure and the second annular structure appear to revolve at the same rotational speed,

the first annular structure is centered in the display, and

the second annular structure is offset from the center of the display.

21. The graphical display of claim 20 wherein the second graphical display portion is external to the first graphical display portion.