System and method for display of information using a vehicle-mount computer

• US 8,918,250 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hollifield, Linda F.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/902,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/432, 701/487, 345/173
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/197 Blocking or enabling of input functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• 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: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A system and method displays information using a vehicle-mount computer. The system includes (i) a computer touch screen for inputting and displaying information; (ii) a motion detector for detecting vehicle motion; (iii) a proximity sensor for detecting proximity to an item; and (vi) a vehicle-mount computer in communication with the computer touch screen, the motion detector, and proximity sensor, the vehicle-mount computer including a central processing unit and memory. The vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to store information associated with user-selected information from the computer touch screen and to display a zoomed view of the user-selected information on the computer touch screen. Further, the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to override screen-blanking when user-selected information is displayed.

Claims

1. A system for displaying information using a vehicle-mount computer, comprising:

a computer touch screen for inputting and displaying information;

a motion detector for detecting vehicle motion; and

a vehicle-mount computer in communication with the computer touch screen and the motion detector, the vehicle-mount computer including a central processing unit and memory;

wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to store information associated with user-selected information from the computer touch screen;

wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to receive vehicle-motion information from the motion detector;

wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to control the display of user-selected information on the computer touch screen; and

wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit comprises a blanking feature that blanks the computer touch screen in response to the motion detector'"'"'s detection of motion unless the computer touch screen is displaying user-selected information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to control the display of a zoomed view of the user-selected information on the computer touch screen.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the zoomed view covers at least about 50% of the display area of the computer touch screen.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to control the display of a zoomed view of the user-selected information and additional information associated with the user-selected information on the computer touch screen in response to the motion detector'"'"'s detection of motion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-selected information displayed comprises additional information associated with the user-selected information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the additional information associated with the user-selected information comprises delivery navigation information.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the additional information associated with the user-selected information comprises information regarding an item for pickup.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the item for pickup is a pallet of goods.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a proximity sensor for detecting vehicle location;

wherein the vehicle-mount computer'"'"'s central processing unit is configured to receive vehicle-location information from the proximity sensor; and

wherein, in response to vehicle-location information, the central processing unit is configured to display on the computer touch screen additional information associated with the user-selected information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle-mount computer comprises a network interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mount computer receives the additional information associated with the user-selected information through the network interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-selected information is within a user-selected area on the computer touch screen.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user-selected area comprises a circle.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the configuration of the user-selected area is predetermined by the vehicle-mount computer.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mount computer comprises a network interface.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer, a gps locator, a gyroscope, and/or a compass.

17. A method for displaying data using a vehicle-mount computer, comprising:

monitoring vehicle motion with a motion detector;

unless the computer touch screen is displaying user-selected information, blanking the computer touch screen in response to the detection of vehicle motion;

selecting user-selected information on a computer touch screen of the vehicle-mount computer; and

after the step of selecting user-selected information, storing in the vehicle-mount computer the user-selected information.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising displaying additional information associated with the user-selected information on the computer touch screen display.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle-mount computer comprises a network interface.

20. A method for displaying data using a vehicle-mount computer comprising:

monitoring vehicle motion with a motion detector;

unless the computer touch screen is displaying user-selected information, blanking the computer touch screen in response to the detection of vehicle motion;

selecting user-selected information on a computer touch screen of the vehicle-mount computer;

after the step of selecting user-selected information, storing in the vehicle-mount computer the user-selected information;

monitoring vehicle proximity to a location with a proximity sensor; and

after detecting vehicle proximity to a location, displaying additional information associated with the user-selected information on the computer touch screen in response to certain detected locations.