Remote status multifunction display for a transport vehicle

• US 8,111,250 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Boudewyns, Phillip R., Nelson, Matthew, Jessen, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US13/211,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 175 Days
• Field of Search: 345 87-100, 345204-215, 340425-442
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3232 particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles B60H1/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/797 At the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60P 3/20 Refrigerated goods vehicles air treatment of goods space B60H; air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

A display for a transport unit. The transport unit includes a trailer that defines a space with at least one zone, and a vehicle that is attachable to the trailer. The vehicle has a passenger compartment and a rear view mirror. A sensor is in communication with the transport unit and senses a parameter of the transport unit. The transport unit also includes a housing that is coupled to the trailer, and that has a display with a screen configured to display the parameter. A controller is attached to the trailer and is in communication with the space. The controller is in electrical communication with the sensor and the display, and the controller is programmed to selectively switch the display between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

Claims

1. A transport unit comprising:

a trailer defining a space;

a vehicle attachable to the trailer and including a passenger compartment;

a temperature control unit attached to the trailer and operable to vary the conditions of the space;

a fuel reservoir coupled to the trailer and in communication with the temperature control unit;

a sensor in communication with the fuel reservoir, the sensor operable to sense a fuel level of the fuel reservoir;

a controller coupled to the trailer and in electrical communication with the sensor to receive a signal indicative of the fuel level from the sensor, the controller including a first display configured to display the fuel level such that the fuel level is readable from outside the passenger compartment; and

a second display coupled to the trailer and in electrical communication with the controller, the second display configured to receive a signal indicative of the fuel level from the controller based on the signal received from the sensor such that the fuel level is selectively readable from inside the passenger compartment and from outside the passenger compartment.

2. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the second display includes a screen that has a temperature portion configured to display a temperature of the space and a fuel portion configured to display the fuel level.

3. The transport unit of claim 2, wherein the second display includes a dimming feature configured to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen.

4. The transport unit of claim 2, wherein the fuel portion includes light emitting diodes.

5. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the second display includes a forward view mode in which the screen is viewable from outside the passenger compartment when the vehicle is disengaged from the trailer, and a mirror view mode in which the screen is viewable from the passenger compartment using a rear view mirror.

6. The transport unit of claim 5, wherein the second display switches between the forward view mode and the mirror view mode based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

7. The transport unit of claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed to switch the second display between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode based on attachment of the vehicle and the trailer.

8. The transport unit of claim 7, wherein the controller is operable to automatically switch the second display between the forward view mode and the mirror view mode.

9. The transport unit of claim 5, wherein the second display includes a fuel level portion, and wherein the fuel level portion is disposed on the screen such that the fuel level is simultaneously viewable from outside the passenger compartment and from within the passenger compartment.

10. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the first display and the second display are configured to display a real-time fuel level of the fuel reservoir.

11. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the second display includes a fuel level indicator configured to change color based on a predetermined fuel level.

12. A transport unit comprising:

a trailer defining a space that has at least one zone;

a vehicle attachable to the trailer, and including a passenger compartment and a rear view mirror;

a sensor in communication with the transport unit, the sensor operable to sense a parameter of the transport unit;

a housing coupled to the trailer and including a display having a screen configured to display the parameter; and

a controller attached to the trailer and in communication with the space, the controller in electrical communication with the sensor and the display, and programmed to selectively switch the display between a forward view mode and a mirror view mode based on a relationship between the vehicle and the trailer.

13. The transport unit of claim 12, wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode based on attachment of the vehicle and the trailer.

14. The transport unit of claim 12, wherein the controller is operable to automatically switch the display between the mirror view mode and the forward view mode.

15. The transport unit of claim 12, further comprising a switch positioned adjacent the display, the switch being in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the switch is operable to emit a signal to sense the proximity of the vehicle with regard to the position of the trailer, and wherein the controller is programmed to switch the display portion between the forward view mode and the mirror view mode based on the signal.

16. The transport unit of claim 12, further comprising an optical sensor coupled to the display to sense a quantity of light available adjacent the display, and wherein the controller is in communication with the optical sensor to adjust illumination of the screen in response to a change in the quantity of light available.

17. The transport unit of claim 12, wherein the parameter is indicative of a temperature of the space.

18. The transport unit of claim 12, wherein the parameter is indicative of a zone of the space.

19. The transport unit of claim 12, wherein the trailer includes a fuel reservoir, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a fuel level of the fuel reservoir.

20. The transport unit of claim 12, further comprising a temperature control unit attached to the trailer and operable to vary the conditions of the space, and wherein the parameter is indicative of a status of the temperature control unit.