Customizable indicating instrument

• US 8,598,999 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH (Adient plc)
• Inventors: Tuzar, Gert-Dieter, Werner, Christina, Deubzer, Andreas, Dreisbach, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, QUANG
• Application Number:
  US12/677,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/815.4, 340/461, 455/566, 345/156, 116/284
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• 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: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination instrument comprising at least one first zone and one second zone, in which respective driver-relevant data can be displayed. The invention also relates to a method for customizing a combination instrument.

Claims

1. A combination instrument for displaying information related to vehicle functions and/or assistance functions in a vehicle to a vehicle occupant, the combination instrument comprising:

a first zone configured as an interaction display for configuring the combination instrument to display a set of information related to the vehicle functions and/or the assistance functions that can be selected;

wherein the first zone comprises an interactive selection zone that is located in a lower part and configured to display a subset of the set of information displayed in the first zone;

an input comprising a rotary pushbutton knob, a left distributor, and a right distributor;

the rotary pushbutton knob configured to change the subset of the set of information displayed in the interactive selection zone upon turning the rotary pushbutton knob to select the subset of the set of information that is displayed in the interactive selection zone as selected information; and

a second zone configured as a storage zone in which the selected information is configured to be displayed and remains visible until the vehicle occupant selects other subset of the set of information or no information, and comprises two display fields which adjoin on the left and right sides of the first zone;

wherein the selected subset of information, when caused by the rotary pushbutton knob to be displayed in the interactive selection zone, is larger than when displayed in the first zone;

wherein the selected subset of information is configured to be viewed in an enlarged form in a subzone in the interaction display of the first zone upon pressing the rotary pushbutton knob; and

wherein a representation of the selected subset of information is configured to be moved from the subzone of the interaction display into at least one of the display fields of the second zone as soon as a corresponding distributor is activated by the vehicle occupant.

2. The combination instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of vehicle information, a warning message and interaction information is configured to be displayed in the first zone.

3. The combination instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection zone comprises a circular selection zone.

4. A method for configuring a combination instrument of a vehicle for displaying information related to vehicle functions and/or assistance functions to a vehicle occupant, having an interaction display and a storage zone, that comprises two display fields which adjoin on the left and right sides of the interaction display, wherein the information displayed in the storage zone remains visible until the vehicle occupant selects other information or no information, the method comprising:

displaying, in the interaction display, a set of information related to the vehicle functions and/or the assistance functions that can be selected;

wherein the interaction display comprises an interaction selection zone that is located in a lower part and configured to display a subset of the set of information in the interaction display;

selecting the subset of the set of information that is displayed in the interaction selection zone as selected information with a rotary pushbutton knob configured to change the subset of the set of information displayed in the interaction selection zone, wherein the selected information, when caused by rotating the rotary pushbutton knob to be displayed in the interaction selection zone, is larger than when displayed in the interaction display; and

wherein the selected information is configured to be viewed in an enlarged form in a subzone of the interaction display upon pressing the rotary pushbutton knob; and

moving the selected information from the subzone of the interaction display into the corresponding display field of the storage zone upon activating a left distributor input or a right distributor input by the vehicle occupant.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the selection zone comprises a circular selection zone.