Display device with dimmable segments

• US 7,501,939 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Osamu, Belikov, Sergey, Paulo, Sergio A
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally; Kerri L.
• Application Number:
  US11/201,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/688
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• 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: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change

Abstract

The present invention generally includes a display device having a plurality of indicia indicative of a vehicle parameter. The display device includes a plurality of dimmable segments. Each dimmable segment has a lower end point associated with a first value of the vehicle parameter and an upper end point associated with a second value of the vehicle parameter. Each of the dimmable segments has an independently adjustable intensity and adapted to illuminate at least a portion of the indicia. A control module is adapted to receive a signal indicative of an actual value of the vehicle parameter. The control module also adjusts the intensity of at least one of the dimmable segments based on the signal. The intensity being at a first intensity when the actual value is about equal to the first value, the intensity being at a second intensity when the actual value is about equal to the second value, and the intensity being at an intensity between the first intensity and the second intensity when the actual value is between the respective first value and the respective second value.

Claims

1. A display device having a plurality of indicia indicative of a vehicle parameter, the display device comprising:

a plurality of dimmable segments, each of said dimmable segments having a lower end point location associated with a first value of the vehicle parameter and an upper end point location associated with a second value of the vehicle parameter, each of said dimmable segments having an independently adjustable intensity and adapted to illuminate at least a portion of the indicia;

a control module that receives a signal indicative of an actual value of the vehicle parameter, said control module adjusting said intensity of at least one of said dimmable segments based on said signal, wherein said intensity is at a first intensity when said actual value of the vehicle parameter is about equal to said first value and said intensity is at a second intensity when said actual value of the vehicle parameter is about equal to said second value; and

a pointer moveable relative to the indicia to indicate said actual value of the vehicle parameter,

when said pointer is disposed at said lower end point location, said intensity is equal to said first intensity,

when said pointer is between said lower end point location and said upper end point location, said intensity of said dimmable segment increases as said pointer travels above said dimmable segment toward said upper end point location and away from said lower end point location,

when said pointer is between said lower end point location and said upper end point location, said intensity of said dimmable segment decreases as said pointer travels above said dimmable segment toward said lower end point location and away from said upper end point location,

when said pointer is disposed at said upper end point location, said intensity is equal to said second intensity, and

when said pointer is not disposed above said dimmable segment, said intensity of said dimmable segment remains constant.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said intensity of said dimmable segment is constant and appears dark when said actual value is about constant and said pointer is not disposed above said dimmable segment.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein said increase in said intensity includes at least one of increasing brightness, adding color, changing color, removing color and combinations thereof and said decrease in said intensity includes at least one of decreasing brightness, adding color, changing color, removing color and combinations thereof.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein said first intensity is a minimum fraction of a predetermined intensity level and said dimmable segment is illuminated at said first intensity when said pointer is over said lower end point location,

said second intensity is a maximum fraction of said predetermined intensity level and said dimmable segment is illuminated at said second intensity when said pointer is over said upper end point location,

said dimmable segment is illuminated at an intensity that is an intermediate fraction of said predetermined intensity level when said pointer is disposed in a position indicative of said actual value of the vehicle parameter being between said first value and said second value and said pointer is disposed between said upper and lower end portion locations on said dimmable segment.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein said predetermined intensity level is one of a daytime intensity level, a nighttime intensity level, and a custom intensity level.

6. The display device of claim 4, wherein said minimum fraction is zero (0) and said dimmable segment appears dark.

7. The display device of claim 4, wherein said minimum fraction is greater than zero (0).

8. The display device of claim 4, wherein said maximum fraction is one (1).

9. The display device of claim 4, wherein said intensity of said dimmable segment is continuously variable between said minimum fraction and said maximum fraction while said pointer is above said dimmable segment and disposed between said upper and said lower end point locations.

10. The display device of claim 2, wherein a color of said dimmable segment is identical to a color of said plurality of dimmable segments.

11. A method of controlling a display device, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of independently adjustable dimmable segments;

associating a lower end point location of a dimmable segment from said plurality of independently adjustable dimmable segments with a first value;

associating an upper end point of said dimmable segment with a second value;

determining an actual value of a vehicle parameter to be displayed on the display device;

positioning a pointer over said dimmable segment to indicate said actual value of said parameter;

increasing an intensity of said dimmable segment over which said pointer is positioned when said actual value increases and said pointer moves toward said upper end point location; and

decreasing said intensity of said dimmable segment over which said pointer is positioned when said actual value decreases and said pointer moves toward said lower end point location.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

holding said intensity constant when said actual value is constant and said pointer is between said upper and said lower end point locations on said dimmable segment; and

holding said intensity constant when said actual value is not constant and said pointer is not between said upper and said lower end point locations on said dimmable segment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said increasing of said intensity includes at least one of increasing brightness, adding color, changing color, removing color and combinations thereof and said decreasing of said intensity includes at least one of decreasing brightness, adding color, changing color, removing color and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

decreasing said intensity of said dimmable segment to about a minimum fraction of a predetermined intensity level when said position of said pointer is over said lower end point location of said dimmable segment,

increasing said intensity of said dimmable segment to about a maximum fraction of said predetermined intensity level when said position of said pointer is over said upper end point location of said dimmable segment,

decreasing said intensity of said dimmable segment to about an intermediate fraction that is between said minimum fraction and said maximum fraction, when said pointer moves to said intermediate location in a direction toward said lower end point location and away from said upper end point location;

increasing said intensity of said dimmable segment to about said intermediate fraction that is between said minimum fraction and said maximum fraction, when said pointer moves to said intermediate location in a direction toward said upper end point location and away from said lower end point location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined intensity level is one of a daytime intensity level, a nighttime intensity level, and a custom intensity level, wherein said minimum fraction is zero (0) and wherein said maximum fraction is one (1).

16. The display device of claim 11, wherein a color of said dimmable segment is identical to a color of said plurality of independently adjustable dimmable segments.

17. A display device having indicia indicative of a vehicle parameter, the display device comprising:

at least a first dimmable segment, a second dimmable segment and a third dimmable segment, each of said dimmable segments having a lower end point location associated with a first value of the vehicle parameter and an upper end point location associated with a second value of the vehicle parameter, each of said dimmable segments having an independently adjustable intensity and adapted to illuminate at least a portion of the indicia;

a control module that receives a signal indicative of an actual value of the vehicle parameter, said actual value being between said first value and said second value, said control module increases an intensity of said second dimmable segment based on said signal when said actual value of the vehicle parameter is increasing in value and said pointer is disposed between said upper and said lower end point locations of said second dimmable segment, said control module adjusts said intensity of said first dimmable segment to a maximum fraction of a predetermined intensity level, said control module adjusts said intensity of said third dimmable segment so said third dimmable segment is dark.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein said predetermined intensity level is one of a daytime intensity level, a nighttime intensity level and a custom intensity level.

19. The display device of claim 17, wherein said intensity of said second dimmable segment is continuously variable between being dark and said maximum fraction of said predetermined intensity level when said pointer is between said upper and lower end point locations.

20. The display device of claim 17, wherein a color of said second dimmable segment is identical to a color of said first dimmable segment.

21. The display device of claim 19, wherein said color of said second dimmable segment and said color of said first dimmable segment changes as said actual value of the vehicle parameter changes.