Display device for vehicle

• US 8,717,157 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Midori, Katoh, Masaki, Hiraiwa, Hikaru, Sasajima, Ikuyo, Kojima, Yasuyuki, Sato, Takumi
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/999,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 340/441, 340/459, 340/438, 340/439, 701/36, 701/429, 348/61, 348/113, 348/115, 348/118, 715/810, 715/768, 353/14, 353/12
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 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 35/211 producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
• 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 35/29 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

Abstract

To provide a display device for vehicle in which, when particular vehicle information, for example vehicle information with great urgency and high priority is displayed, a passenger can easily recognize the information and his attention can be attracted to the information.

A display device for vehicle 1 includes an image display device 10 and control means 20 for displaying vehicle information as an image in the image display device 10, wherein, in transition from a first display form in which each of a first display image GR1 and a second display image GR2 is displayed to a second display form in which each of the first display image GR1, the second display image GR2, and a third display image GR3 is displayed, the control means 20 displays the third display image GR3 between the first and second display images after the first and second display images GR1 and GR2 are moved in a direction in which they are separated from each other or while they are moved in that direction.

Claims

1. A display device for vehicle comprising an image display device and control means for displaying vehicle information as an image in the image display device,

wherein the image includes a first display image serving as first vehicle information of the vehicle information, a second display image serving as second vehicle information different from the first vehicle information, and a third display image serving as third vehicle information different from the first and second vehicle information,

wherein the control means displays each of the first and second display images in a first display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other, displays each of the first, second, and third display images in a second display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other on both sides of the third display image, and in transition from the first display form to the second display form, displays the third display image between the first and second display images after the first and second display images are moved in a direction in which the first and second display images are separated from each other or while they are moved in that direction,

wherein each of the first and second display images has a decoration image portion which decorates the vehicle information,

wherein, in transition from the first display form to the second display form, the control means switches each of the first and second display images from a decoration display mode in which the decoration image portion is displayed to a simple display mode in which the decoration image portion is not displayed, and

wherein, after the transition from the first display form to the second display form, the control means switches each of the first and second display images from the simple display mode back to the decoration display mode.

2. A display device for vehicle comprising an image display device and control means for displaying vehicle information as an image in the image display device,

wherein the image includes a first display image serving as first vehicle information of the vehicle information, a second display image serving as second vehicle information different from the first vehicle information, and a third display image serving as third vehicle information different from the first and second vehicle information,

wherein the control means displays each of the first and second display images in a first display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other, displays each of the first, second, and third display images in a second display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other on both sides of the third display image, and in transition from the first display form to the second display form, displays the third display image between the first and second display images after the first and second display images are moved in a direction in which the first and second display images are separated from each other or while they are moved in that direction,

wherein each of the first and second display images has a background image portion which serves as a background of the vehicle information and a decoration image portion which decorates the vehicle information,

wherein, in transition from the first display form to the second display form, the control means changes a display state of the decoration image portion such that the display state before the transition is different from the display state after the transition, and

wherein the display state of the decoration image portion is changed by changing a color tone or a decoration feel of the decoration image portion.

3. A display device for vehicle comprising an image display device and control means for displaying vehicle information as an image in the image display device,

wherein the image includes a first display image serving as first vehicle information of the vehicle information, a second display image serving as second vehicle information different from the first vehicle information, and a third display image serving as third vehicle information different from the first and second vehicle information,

wherein the control means displays each of the first and second display images in a first display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other, displays each of the first, second, and third display images in a second display form in which the first and second display images are adjacent to each other on both sides of the third display image, and in transition from the first display form to the second display form, displays the third display image between the first and second display images after the first and second display images are moved in a direction in which the first and second display images are separated from each other or while they are moved in that direction,

wherein each of the first and second display images has a background image portion which serves as a background of the vehicle information and a decoration image portion which decorates the vehicle information,

wherein, in transition from the first display form to the second display form, the control means changes a display state of the decoration image portion such that the display state before the transition is different from the display state after the transition, and

wherein the display state of the decoration image portion is changed by enlarging or rotating the decoration image portion.