Graphic display apparatus

• US 8,773,250 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sitarski, Nicholas Scott, Gilling, Earnee Jones, Wippler, Erik Anthony, Rovik, Christopher Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/302,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/165 Videos and animations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/586 Wired data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• 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 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/00 Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/00 Indexing scheme for image data processing or generation, in general
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players

Abstract

A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle wherein the display apparatus includes at least two display units operable to display graphics and/or video, a wire connector connecting the at least two display units together, and a control system connected to the wire connector wherein the control system is operable to play video or graphics on the at least two display units. The display units are in communication with one another providing for a coordinated or synchronized display of graphics. If, by way of example, a firework explodes on the main display screen, the remnants of that single firework will be exploded onto the secondary display screens. Further, by way of example, scrolling text may scroll from one display screen to the other giving the synchronized impression to the user that the multiple display screens are similar to one large screen.

Claims

1. A graphic display apparatus within an automotive vehicle, the display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of display screens including a first display screen and a second display screen;

the first display screen and the second display screen mounted on a dashboard within the automotive vehicle, the first display screen and the second display screen each used to display a different type of a vehicle function;

the first display screen and the second display screen also used to display animation, the first display screen having animation originating on the first display screen for a first predetermined length of time, the second display screen in communication with the first display screen to move the animation from the first display screen to the second display screen after a second predetermined length of time;

a wire connector connecting the first display screen and the second display screen together; and

a control system connected to the wire connector, the control system operable to play video on the first display screen and the second display screen;

wherein the animation is coordinated to generate an appearance of movement between the plurality of display screens of graphics displayed on the plurality of display screens.

2. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display apparatus contains three total display units.

3. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein either the different type of the vehicle function displayed on either the first display screen or the second display screen is vehicle navigation display unit.

4. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein either the different type of the vehicle function displayed on either the first display screen or the second display screen is a vehicle climate control display unit.

5. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first display screen and the second display screen are arranged close in proximity to one another.

6. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first display screen and the second display screen are operable to display photographs.

7. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the animation on the first display screen and the second display screen are displayed upon opening of a vehicle door.

8. The graphic display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the animation on the first display screen and the second display screen are displayed upon starting of the vehicle.

9. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined length of time ranges from 10-60 seconds.

10. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the animation is a welcome display.

11. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the animation is a status update of vehicle conditions.

12. The graphics display apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system includes a graphics card.

13. The graphics display apparatus of claim 9 wherein the graphics card of the control system is operable to control graphics, video or photo.

14. A method for controlling a plurality of display screens within an automotive vehicle, a controller controlling a series of steps to generate a synchronized display on a plurality of display screens, the method of the controller comprising the steps of:

starting animation originating on a first display screen for a first predetermined length of time;

moving the animation from the first display screen to a second display screen after a second predetermined length of time; and

coordinating the graphics on the plurality of display screens to generate an appearance of movement between the plurality of display screens of graphics displayed on the plurality of display screens;

wherein the plurality of display screens are each used to display a different type of vehicle function.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein movement from the first display screen to the second display screen of the graphics is gradual.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the first predetermined length of time ranging between 0.25 seconds and 10 seconds.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the second predetermined length of time ranges between 0.25 seconds and 10 seconds.