Process and device for visual display of information in motor vehicles

• US 7,237,203 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kuenzner, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/715,069
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/864, 345/866, 345/790, 345/791, 345/794, 731/13, 731/14
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles

Abstract

In a process and device for visual display of information in motor vehicles with an electronically controllable display, the display is controlled in such a manner that at least two sets of information, having an interrelated effect, are displayed as a comparison by graphical representation. Examples of information having an interrelated effect are the value pairs—range/distance, current fuel consumption/average fuel consumption, tank content/range, total travel time/time traveled. In this respect the information is displayed at the same place alternating with the same type of graphics, but with different labels.

Claims

1. Process for visual display of information with a bar graph performed in a motor vehicle with an electronically controllable display, where the display is controlled in such a manner that at least two sets of information, having an interrelated effect, are displayed at the same place alternating with the same type of graphics, but with different labels, wherein a graphical comparison difference between said at least two sets of information is representative of a third set of information, and wherein said at least two sets of information are selected from the set that includes:

a distance range said motor vehicle can travel before exhausting an amount of fuel in said motor vehicle, a distance said motor vehicle has to travel to reach an entered destination, an average fuel consumption of said motor vehicle, a current fuel consumption of said motor vehicle, an amount of fuel in said motor vehicle, and a distance range said motor vehicle can travel before exhausting said amount of fuel, a total travel time and a time traveled.

2. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information is displayed in different colors or intensity of illumination (light/dark).

3. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third set of information relates to whether said amount of fuel is enough to reach the entered destination.

4. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third set of information relates to whether the average fuel consumption is increasing or decreasing.

5. Indicator for visual display of information with a bar graph incorporated into a motor vehicle with an electronically controllable display, comprising means to control the display in such a manner that at least two sets of information, having an interrelated effect, are displayed at the same place alternating with the same type of graphics, but with different labels, wherein a graphical comparison difference between said at least two sets of information is representative of a third set of information, and wherein said at least two sets of information are selected from the set that includes:

a distance range said motor vehicle can travel before exhausting an amount of fuel in said motor vehicle, a distance said motor vehicle has to travel to reach an entered destination, an average fuel consumption of said motor vehicle, a current fuel consumption of said motor vehicle, an amount of fuel in said motor vehicle, a distance range said motor vehicle can travel before exhausting said amount of fuel, a total travel time and a time traveled.

6. Indicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information is displayed in different colors or intensity of illumination (light/dark).

7. Indicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third set of information relates to whether said amount of fuel is enough to reach the entered destination.

8. Indicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third set of information relates to whether the average fuel consumption is increasing or decreasing.