Displaying unit and method for displaying a steering-wheel angle, to be modified, of a motor vehicle

• US 7,679,495 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Faber, Petko, Beutnagel-Buchner, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson; Bradley E
• Application Number:
  US10/559,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 345/11, 116/31
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically

Abstract

A display unit for representing a steering-wheel angle, to be modified, of a vehicle is provided, which has a multitude of adjacently arranged indicator elements. One or more of these indicator element(s) is/are illuminated to indicate a modification in the steering-wheel angle and possibly the steering direction.

Claims

1. A display unit for displaying a steering-wheel angle, to be modified, of a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of indicator elements, which are arranged next to each other, wherein the display unit is arranged in a region of an instrument panel of the vehicle;

display elements which are part of a dial of an indicator display or a freely programmable display; and

a switchover unit for switching between a display of a steering wheel angle to be modified and a display function otherwise assigned to the dial or the freely programmable display.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the indicator elements are illuminable to display the steering-wheel angle to be modified.

3. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein illumination of particular indicator elements depends on a steering-wheel angle to be modified.

4. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein illuminated indicator elements are able to be illuminated in different colors as a function of the amount of a steering-wheel angle to be implemented.

5. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is arranged at an edge of an indicator device for the output of additional information.

6. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein the indicator elements are illuminable to display the steering-wheel angle to be modified.

7. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein the display unit displays the length of a parking space.

8. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the length of a parking space.

9. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is arranged in the vehicle such that the indicator elements are visible in a rearview mirror or are visible to a driver if the driver turns in the direction of a rear window.

10. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering angle to be modified is represented in relation to a reference point.

19. The display unit according to claim 6, wherein illumination of particular indicator elements depends on a steering-wheel angle to be modified.

11. A method for displaying a steering-wheel angle, to be modified, of a vehicle, the displaying being via a display unit arranged in a region of an instrument panel of the vehicle and having (a) a plurality of indicator elements, which are arranged next to each other, (b) display elements which are part of a dial of an indicator display or a freely programmable display, and (c) a switchover unit, the method comprising:

switching between a display of a steering wheel angle to be modified and a display function otherwise assigned to the dial or the freely programmable display using the switchover unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indicator elements are illuminable to display the steering-wheel angle to be modified.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the modification of the steering-wheel angle is determined from a comparison of a currently set steering-wheel angle with a calculated driving path of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the calculated driving path is a driving path for parking the vehicle in a parking space.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a modification of the steering-wheel angle to be implemented is represented relative to a currently set steering-wheel angle.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein a steering-wheel angle to be adjusted absolutely is illustrated.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the display unit is arranged at an edge of an indicator device for the output of additional information.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the length of a parking space.