Vehicle meter cluster

• US 8,878,660 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Konet, Heather, Goudy, Roy, Chambers, Jeremy, Christensen, Andy, Combest, John, Grabow, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/170,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23.01
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, 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 35/28 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: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A vehicle meter cluster basically includes a meter cluster housing, an instrument display, a lens and a light source. The lens is disposed in front of the instrument display and includes a reflective area. The light source is mounted on the meter cluster housing or proximate to the meter cluster housing. The light source is configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective area.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a meter cluster including;

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display including at least one instrumentation indicia configured to present vehicle condition information;

a light source;

a lens positioned between the instrument display and the light source, the lens having a first surface facing the instrument display and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the light source, the second surface including a reflective display area, the instrument display being visible through the lens, the light source being configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective display area of the lens to selectively provide warning information on the reflective display area, the warning information being different than the vehicle condition information, and the reflective display area being positioned to at least partially overlay the instrumentation indicia such that the instrumentation indicia is at least partially visible through the lens while the light source is emitting the light toward the reflective display area; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the light source to emit the light; and

a collision detection component configured to detect whether a potential for collision exists between the vehicle and an object, and to provide a potential collision detection signal based on the detection, the controller being configured to selectively activate the light source to emit the light based on the potential collision detection signal.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the light source includes at least one light emitter.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, and is configured to selectively emit light from the light emitters in a predetermined sequence that represents the warning information.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the light emitted from the light source is shaped as an icon representing the warning information.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

at least a majority of the at least one instrumentation indicia is visible through the lens while the light source is emitting the light toward the reflective display area.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

at least a portion of the at least one instrumentation indicia is visible through the reflective display area.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the reflective display area is entirely spaced away from the instrumentation indicia along the lens such that the at least one instrumentation indicia is entirely visible through the lens.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood that is configured to extend over and past the lens to block light propagating in a direction toward the lens from behind the hood and cast a shadow across the reflective display area.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood extending over and past the lens in a direction away from the instrument display;

and

the meter cluster housing, in cooperation with the lens, defines a cavity in which the instrument display is disposed.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the meter cluster housing includes a hood extending over and past the lens in a direction away from the instrument display;

and

the light source is mounted on the hood.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

the light source is mounted on the hood to selectively emit the light toward the reflective display area at a first angle with respect to the second surface of the lens, the first angle being less than a second angle between the second surface and a reflection path at which a reflected portion of the light propagates from the second surface.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lens is non-refractive.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the collision detection component provides the potential collision detection signal based on at least one warning of a plurality of warnings, and the controller is configured to control the light source to emit the light in a manner to indicate the at least one warning represented by the potential collision detection signal.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein

the plurality of warnings includes a forward collision warning;

the light source includes a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array; and

the controller is configured to control the light source to light the entire array of light emitters when the potential collision detection signal indicates the forward collision warning.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the light source includes a plurality of groups of light sources;

and

the collision detection component provides the potential collision detection signal based on at least one warning of a plurality of warnings, and the controller is configured to control the groups of light sources to emit the light differently according to the plurality of warnings.

16. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein

the plurality of warnings includes a left side blind spot warning and a right side blind spot warning.

17. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein

the plurality of warnings includes a clearance and a turn hazard warning.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein

the controller is configured to control the array of the light emitters to emit a first color when the potential collision detection signal indicates the clearance and a second color when the potential collision detection signal indicates the turn hazard warning.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle collision warning system including;

a collision detection component configured to detect whether a potential for collision exists between the vehicle and an object, and to provide a potential collision detection signal based on the detection which includes at least one warning of a plurality of warnings, the plurality of warnings including a left side blind spot warning and a right side blind spot warning;

a meter cluster including;

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display;

a light source including a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array, with the array of light emitters divided into a left side group and a right side group;

a lens positioned between the instrument display and the light source, the lens having a first surface facing the instrument display and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the light source, the second surface including a reflective display area, the instrument display being visible through the lens, and the light source being configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective display area of the lens; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the light source to emit the light based on the potential collision detection signal in a manner to indicate the at least one warning represented by the potential collision detection signal, such that the controller is configured to control the light source to light the left side group when the potential collision detection signal indicates a left side blind spot warning, and the controller is configured to control the light source to light the right side group when the potential collision detection signal indicates a right side blind spot warning.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle collision warning system including;

a collision detection component configured to detect whether a potential for collision exists between the vehicle and an object, and to provide a potential collision detection signal based on the detection which includes at least one warning of a plurality of warnings, the plurality of warnings including a clearance and a turn hazard warning;

a meter cluster including;

a meter cluster housing;

an instrument display;

a light source including a plurality of light emitters arranged in an array;

a lens positioned between the instrument display and the light source, the lens having a first surface facing the instrument display and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the light source, the second surface including a reflective display area, the instrument display being visible through the lens, and the light source being configured to selectively emit light toward the reflective display area of the lens; and

a controller configured to selectively activate the light source to emit the light based on the potential collision detection signal in a manner to indicate the at least one warning represented by the potential collision detection signal, such that the controller is configured to detect an intended turn direction and control the light source to light the array of light emitters in sequence toward the intended turn direction when the potential collision detection signal indicates the clearance, and to flash the array of light emitters when the potential collision detection signal indicates the turn hazard warning.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein

the controller is configured to control the array of the light emitters to emit a first color when the potential collision detection signal indicates the clearance and a second color when the potential collision detection signal indicates the turn hazard warning.