In-vehicle display management system

• US 8,605,009 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: King, Anthony Gerald, Bennie, Brian, Remillard, Jeffrey Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US12/960,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,101 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345 11- 9, 349/11, 340901-905, 340933-943
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/15 Output devices or features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/186 Displaying Information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A system and method for displaying information within a vehicle is described. The system includes at least one sensing device detecting a set of data associated with the vehicle, driver, or surroundings, which is processed using a processing unit for identifying a set of information to be displayed. The system also includes a set of display devices coupled to the vehicle. A router selects one or more display devices for displaying the display element based on a set of conditions. A display control unit generates an appropriate display element for the set of information identified and the selected display.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a set of parameters associated with the vehicle, driver, or surroundings, including detecting a line of sight of the driver;

processing the parameters to generate a set of information to be displayed;

selecting one or more display devices to present the display elements based on a set of conditions

the display devices including

a wearable display;

a head-up display;

a center stack;

an instrument cluster display;

or

display screens;

the selecting step further including

upon a determination that the wearable device has been selected,

determining whether the wearable display device is available; and

upon a determination that the wearable display is unavailable selecting another display device for presenting the display elements;

generating display elements to be displayed using the set of information; and

displaying the information using the display devices selected.