Information display system for a vehicle

• US 8,577,549 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Cooprider, Troy O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/740,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

An information display system for a vehicle includes a display screen disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle and a rearward facing camera of the vehicle. The display screen displays video images captured by the rearward facing camera for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver. When the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, the information display screen is operable to display information or instructions. The information/instructions may include at least one of (a) at least one instruction pertaining to how to service an accessory of the vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (b) a video clip pertaining to how to service an accessory of the vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (c) at least one instruction pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the vehicle and (d) a video clip pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

a display screen disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system at a location viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle;

said rearward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor;

wherein said display screen displays video images captured by said rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said display screen is operable to display operation/service information;

wherein said operation/service information is displayed responsive to a triggering event; and

wherein said operation/service information comprises at least one of (a) at least one instruction pertaining to how to service an accessory of the equipped vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (b) a video clip pertaining to how to service an accessory of the equipped vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (c) at least one instruction pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the equipped vehicle and (d) a video clip pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the equipped vehicle.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said operation/service information comprises at least one graphic.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen operation/service information only when the equipped vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park, (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed and (c) stationary.

4. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system is operable to access electronically stored instructions.

5. The information display system of claim 4, wherein said electronically stored instructions pertain to at least one of (i) an accessory of the equipped vehicle and (ii) operation of the equipped vehicle.

6. The information display system of claim 5, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the equipped vehicle can scroll through and access said electronically stored instructions.

7. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said information display system downloads data via a telematics system of the equipped vehicle.

8. The information display system of claim 7, wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen information at least partially derived from said downloaded data.

9. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said operation/service information comprises vehicle user manual information pertaining to the equipped vehicle.

10. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said operation/service information comprises information pertaining to at least one of (a) a communication system, (b) a voice recorder, (c) a garage door opener, (d) a memory mirror system, (e) a phone, (f) a hands-free phone, (g) a video device, (h) a video device for internal cabin surveillance, (i) a telephone function, (j) a video telephone function, (k) a compass system, (l) a navigation system, (m) a tire pressure monitoring system, (n) a tire changing device, (o) a computer, (p) a trip computer, (q) a remote starter control, (r) a clock, (s) a radio, (t) a light, (u) an interior light, (v) an exterior light and (w) a telematics system.

11. The information display system of claim 1, further comprising an in-vehicle communication control and a human-machine interface located at an interior rearview mirror assembly, said human-machine interface being connected to said in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, and wherein a global positioning system communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior rearview mirror assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior rearview mirror assembly.

12. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said operation/service information comprises at least one of (a) instructions on how to operate the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (b) instructions on how to control the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (c) instructions on how to adjust the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (d) instructions on how to repair the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof and (e) instructions on how to replace the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof.

13. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said display screen comprises one of an interior mirror display screen and a windshield electronics module display screen.

14. The information display system of claim 1, wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) a fault condition and (ii) a user input.

15. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

a display screen disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system at a location viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

a control operable to access electronically stored instructions;

wherein said electronically stored instructions pertain to at least one of (i) an accessory of the equipped vehicle and (ii) operation of the equipped vehicle;

a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle;

said rearward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor;

wherein said display screen displays video images captured by said rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said display screen is operable to display said instructions; and

wherein said instructions comprise at least one of (a) at least one instruction pertaining to how to service an accessory of the equipped vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (b) a video clip pertaining to how to service an accessory of the equipped vehicle to remediate a fault condition, (c) at least one instruction pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the equipped vehicle and (d) a video clip pertaining to how to operate an accessory of the equipped vehicle.

16. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said instructions comprise at least one graphic.

17. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen instructions only when the equipped vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park, (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed and (c) stationary.

18. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said information display system is operable so that the driver of the equipped vehicle can scroll through and access said electronically stored instructions.

19. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said information display system downloads data via a telematics system of the equipped vehicle.

20. The information display system of claim 19, wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen information at least partially derived from said downloaded data.

21. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said instructions comprise vehicle user manual information pertaining to the equipped vehicle.

22. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said instructions comprise information pertaining to at least one of (a) a communication system, (b) a voice recorder, (c) a garage door opener, (d) a memory mirror system, (e) a phone, (f) a hands-free phone, (g) a video device, (h) a video device for internal cabin surveillance, (i) a telephone function, (j) a video telephone function, (k) a compass system, (l) a navigation system, (m) a tire pressure monitoring system, (n) a tire changing device, (o) a computer, (p) a trip computer, (q) a remote starter control, (r) a clock, (s) a radio, (t) a light, (u) an interior light, (v) an exterior light and (w) a telematics system.

23. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said instructions comprise at least one of (a) instructions on how to operate the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (b) instructions on how to control the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (c) instructions on how to adjust the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (d) instructions on how to repair the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof and (e) instructions on how to replace the accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof.

24. The information display system of claim 15, wherein said instructions are displayed responsive to a triggering event, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) a fault condition and (ii) a user input.

25. An information display system for a vehicle, said information display system comprising:

a display screen disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said information display system at a location viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

a rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle;

said rearward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor;

wherein said display screen displays video images captured by said rearward facing camera of the equipped vehicle for assisting the driver during a reversing maneuver;

wherein, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, said display screen is operable to display information pertaining to at least one of (i) an accessory of the equipped vehicle and (ii) operation of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen said information only when the equipped vehicle is one of (a) shifted into park, (b) traveling at a speed below a threshold speed and (c) stationary; and

wherein said information pertains to at least one of (a) how to operate an accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (b) how to control an accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (c) how to adjust an accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof, (d) how to repair an accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof and (e) how to replace an accessory of the equipped vehicle or a component thereof.

26. The information display system of claim 25, wherein said information pertains to at least one of (a) a communication system, (b) a voice recorder, (c) a garage door opener, (d) a memory mirror system, (e) a phone, (f) a hands-free phone, (g) a video device, (h) a video device for internal cabin surveillance, (i) a telephone function, (j) a video telephone function, (k) a compass system, (l) a navigation system, (m) a tire pressure monitoring system, (n) a tire changing device, (o) a computer, (p) a trip computer, (q) a remote starter control, (r) a clock, (s) a radio, (t) a light, (u) an interior light, (v) an exterior light and (w) a telematics system.

27. The information display system of claim 25, wherein said information display system downloads data via a telematics system of the equipped vehicle.

28. The information display system of claim 27, wherein said information display system is operable to display on said display screen information at least partially derived from said downloaded data.

29. The information display system of claim 25, wherein said information comprises vehicle user manual information pertaining to the equipped vehicle.

30. The information display system of claim 25, wherein said instructions are displayed responsive to a triggering event, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) a fault condition and (ii) a user input.