Data meter with bar graph and histogram

• US 8,594,883 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Harry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varghese, Sasha T
• Application Number:
  US12/351,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/33.8, 701/33.2
• US Class Current: 701/33.8
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A technique and apparatus of displaying a vehicle'"'"'s information on a display device are provided and include measuring a set of diagnostic and state values of the vehicle, comparing the set of measured values with a set of related predetermined values, the set of predetermined values being within a preset range for operation of the vehicle, displaying on a video image a graphical depiction of the present measured value, and displaying on the same video image, a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the related predetermined set of values, with the comparison changing color of a certain portion of the graphical depiction.

Claims

1. A method of displaying vehicle information on a display device, the method comprising:

measuring, via a processor, a value of a vehicle health characteristic;

comparing, via the processor, the value of the vehicle health characteristic with a first set of related predetermined values of the vehicle health characteristic, the first set of related predetermined values including a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value of the vehicle health characteristic;

displaying, on a display, an alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the first set of related predetermined values;

receiving, via the processor, an indication to modify at least one of the first upper limit value and the first lower limit value, resulting in a second set of related selected values of the vehicle health characteristic, the second set of related selected values including a second upper limit value and a second lower limit value of the vehicle health characteristic;

comparing, via the processor, the value of the vehicle health characteristic with the second set of related selected values of the vehicle health characteristic; and

displaying, on the display, the alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the second upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the second lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the second set of related selected values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical depiction comprises a bar graph that changes color based on each comparison.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical depiction comprises a display of a plurality of values of the vehicle health characteristic over different time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting at least one of the first set of related predetermined values and the second set of related selected values via a user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting different time intervals for measuring values of the vehicle health characteristic via a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically differentiating regions of the graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the first set of related predetermined values outside of a range between the first upper limit value and the first lower limit value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of related predetermined values and the second set of related selected values correspond to different colors in the graphical depiction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the processor, an indication to display the alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value and the alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the indication to modify the at least one of the first upper limit value and the first lower limit value comprises highlighting the alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value and the alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value on the display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the processor, an indication to hide the alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value and the alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value on the display.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, the alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value, the alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value, and the graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the first set of related predetermined values are displayed at a first time; and

the alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, the alphanumeric depiction of the second upper limit value, the alphanumeric depiction of the second lower limit value, and the graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the second set of related selected values are displayed at a second time following the first time.

12. An apparatus for displaying vehicle information, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface that connects to a vehicle and receives a value of a vehicle health characteristic measured by at least one sensor;

a memory connected to the communication interface, the memory storing software for displaying the value of the vehicle health characteristic;

a processor connected to the memory, the processor being configured to compare the value of the vehicle health characteristic with a first set of related predetermined values of the vehicle health characteristic and a second set of related selected values of the vehicle health characteristic, and enabling modification of the first set of related predetermined values, including a first upper limit and a first lower limit, resulting in the second set of related selected values, including a second upper limit and a second lower limit; and

a display displaying, at a first time, an alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the first set of related predetermined values and, at a second time following the first time, the alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the second upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the second lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the second set of related selected values.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphical depiction comprises a bar graph that changes color based on each comparison, and a histogram depicting measured values of the vehicle health characteristic over different time intervals.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein regions of the graphical depiction are graphically differentiated based on a deviation of the value of a vehicle health characteristic above the first upper limit value or below the first lower limit value.

15. A system for displaying vehicle information, the system comprising:

means for measuring a value of a vehicle health characteristic;

means for comparing the value of the vehicle health characteristic with a first set of related predetermined values of the vehicle health characteristic, the first set of related predetermined values including a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value of the vehicle health characteristic;

means for displaying an alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the first upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the first lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the first set of related predetermined values;

means for receiving an indication to modify at least one of the first upper limit value and the first lower limit value, resulting in a second set of related selected values of the vehicle health characteristic, the second set of related selected values including a second upper limit value and a second lower limit value of the vehicle health characteristic;

means for comparing the value of the vehicle health characteristic with the second set of related selected values of the vehicle health characteristic; and

means for displaying the alphanumeric depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic, an alphanumeric depiction of the second upper limit value, an alphanumeric depiction of the second lower limit value, and a graphical depiction of the value of the vehicle health characteristic in comparison with the second set of related selected values.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical depiction comprises a bar graph that changes color based on each comparison.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the graphical depiction comprises a display of a plurality of values of the vehicle health characteristic over different time intervals.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for selecting at least one of the first set of related predetermined values and the second set of related selected values.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for selecting different time intervals for measuring values of the vehicle health characteristic.