Combination instrument

• US 8,692,660 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2008
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automobili Lamborghini SPA (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Automobili Lamborghini SPA (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Manfred, Perini, Filippo, Rebottini, Corrado, Mazzetti, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/677,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,068 Days
• Field of Search: 340/441, 348/148, 362/23, 362/29, 701/36, 701/454, 715/772, 715/841
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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: 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: B60K 37/20 Dashboard panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle

Abstract

An instrument cluster for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle has at least one display on which relevant operational data of the vehicle can be displayed. The at least one display is freely programmable with respect to the data displayed on it and can be switched between at least two different configurations.

Claims

1. An instrument cluster for the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, with at least one display on which relevant operational data of the vehicle can be displayed wherein at least one display is freely programmable with respect to the data displayed on it, and that the display can be independently switched, separately from a change to the vehicle other than the display, between at least two different configurations, wherein the same operational data is represented by different graphical representations in the different configurations.

2. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three freely programmable displays.

3. The instrument cluster according to claim 2 wherein speed can be displayed on a first of said display, the rpm on a second of said displays, and the acceleration of the motor vehicle on a third of said displays.

4. The instrument cluster according to claim 3 wherein at least in one of the configurations, in addition to the speed, the power delivered by the internal combustion engine can be displayed on said first display.

5. The instrument cluster according to claim 3 wherein at least in one of the configurations on said second of said display, in addition to the rpm, the gear engaged in the vehicle transmission can be displayed.

6. The instrument cluster according to claim 5 wherein at least in one of the configurations, the indicated rpm is visually linked to the display of the gear engaged in the transmission.

7. The instrument cluster according to claim 3 wherein said third display is connected to an accelerometer.

8. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein on at least one of said displays, the picture taken by a camera recording the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be displayed.

9. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said displays is designed as a TFT display.

10. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein one of the configurations is a normal configuration and the other is a racing configuration.

11. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein the two configurations can be set by means of a switch.

12. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 wherein there are two other displays with LED display elements.

13. An instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising at least one display programmed to display an image of selected one of diverse forms of representation indicating a sensed condition of said vehicle,

wherein the display can be independently selected, separately from a change to the vehicle other than the display, from at least two different configurations, and

wherein the sensed condition is represented differently in the different configurations.

14. An instrument panel according to claim 13 wherein said display comprises a TFT display.

15. An instrument panel according to claim 13 wherein said forms of representation include digital and analog devices.

16. An instrument panel according to claim 13 wherein said condition includes one of a group including rpm, engaged transmission gear, acceleration, speed and engine power.

17. An instrument panel according to claim 13 including a switch for selecting one of said forms.

18. An instrument panel according to claim 13 including at least one other type of display comprising an LED display.

19. An instrument panel according to claim 13 wherein said image comprises a photograph of an exterior surrounding segment of said vehicle.

20. An instrument panel comprising:

a programmable display adapted for use in a plurality of motor vehicles of at least one of a different make and model, and configured to display an instrument cluster corresponding to the respective motor vehicle,

wherein the programmable display can be independently switched, separately from a change to the vehicle other than the display, between at least two different configurations, and

wherein the same operational data is represented differently in the different configurations.