Movable display of information in a motor vehicle

• US 9,517,695 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Ullmann, Christine, Mayer, Stefan, Sprickmann Kerkerinck, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US14/899,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• 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 35/28 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects

Abstract

At least one display device in a motor vehicle displays graphic information from graphic applications that generate, independently of one another, display contents for an information data set. The graphic applications synchronize themselves by exchanging the information data set or by mutual referencing to the information data set, with the result that firstly one of the applications generates and displays its display content for the information data set in a first region, and then another of the applications generates its display content for the information data set and displays its display content in another region in the passenger compartment. A signaling device signals the synchronization by at least one optical and/or acoustic signal, which is different from the display contents, in the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one display device configured to display graphic information in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle;

at least one processor executing at least two graphic applications configured to generate, independently of one another, display contents for an information data set displayed on the at least one display device, the applications configured to synchronize with each other by at least one of exchanging the information data set and mutual referencing to the information data set, one of the applications generating first display content for the information data set displayed in a first region in the passenger compartment, and then another of the applications generating second display content for the information data set displayed in a second region in the passenger compartment; and

a signaling device configured to generate in the passenger compartment at least one of an optical signal and an acoustic signal, different from the display contents, signaling synchronization of the applications.

2. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two display devices are arranged structurally separate from one another and the applications are configured to display the display contents on different display devices, respectively.

3. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least two display devices include at least two of a combination instrument, a windshield base display, a screen in a center console, a screen in a dashboard and a head-up display.

4. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signaling device comprises a lighting symbol which at least one of lights up, flashes and changes color in generating the optical signal.

5. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signaling device is configured to generate a lighting effect moving in the passenger compartment to indicate a direction in which the information data set is exchanged.

6. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one display device comprises at least one of a combination instrument, a windshield base display, a screen in a center console, a screen in a dashboard and a head-up display.

7. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device comprises a lighting symbol which at least one of lights up, flashes and changes color in generating the optical signal.

8. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device is configured to generate a lighting effect moving in the passenger compartment to indicate a direction in which the information data set is exchanged.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device comprises a plurality of lamps, arranged in series between two display devices, configured to at least one of switch on and switch off in series.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device comprises a projection device configured to project at least one of a light spot and a lighting symbol onto a surface in the passenger compartment.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device comprises a windshield base display and is configured to generate a movable lighting effect on the windshield base display, signaling a direction in which the information data set is exchanged.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device is configured to generate, on the at least one display device, a graphic symbol which points from one of the first and second regions to another of the first and second regions.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signaling device signals the synchronization of the applications by an indicator to the second region from the first region.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a first application of the at least two graphic applications generates the first display content for the first region of the at least one display device, and

wherein after the first application generates the first display content, the signaling device generates the at least one of the optical signal and the acoustic signal providing the signaling from the first region of the at least one display device to the second region of the at least one display device that the first application is synchronized with a second application of the at least two graphic applications, and the second application generates the second display content for the second region of the at least one display device.

15. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the processor generates an old information data set referenced by first and second applications of the at least two graphic applications in generating first and second display content for the first and second regions, respectively, of the at least one display device,

wherein after generating the old information data set, the processor generates an updated information data set and the first application generates updated first display content for the updated information data set and the first region of the at least one display device,

wherein after the updated first display content is generated, the signaling device generates the at least one of the optical signal and the acoustic signal providing the signaling from the first region to the second region of the at least one display device, and

wherein after generation of the signaling, the second application generates updated second display content for the updated information data set and the second region of the at least one display device.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the old information data set and the updated information data set relate to an output from a navigation system.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the first and second regions of the at least display device correspond respectively with structurally separate first and second display devices, and

wherein the first display device comprises a user interface that receives information for the updated information data set from a user.

18. The motor vehicle as claim in claim 17, wherein the first display device comprises a screen of an infotainment system on which an operator control menu is presented to a user.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first and second regions of the at least display device correspond respectively with structurally separate first and second display devices,

wherein the signaling device generates an optical display on a windshield base display extending at least partially across a bottom of windshield, and

wherein the signaling device signals the synchronization with a wave symbol which travels across the bottom of the windshield on the windshield base display.

20. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the signaling device generates an optical display on a windshield base display extending at least partially across a bottom of windshield,

wherein the first region is located in a screen of an infotainment system functioning as a user interface,

wherein while information for the information data set is being entered by a user via the screen of the infotainment system, an indicator is shown above the screen of the infotainment system in the windshield base display,

wherein the second region is located in a second display device structurally separate from the screen of the infotainment system,

wherein after the information for the information data set has been entered via the screen of the infotainment system, the signaling device moves the indicator from above the screen of the infotainment system to a signaling area proximate to the second display device, and

wherein once the indicator reaches the signaling area, the second display content is generated for the information data set, on the second display device.

21. A method for symbolizing exchange of data between at least two applications, comprising:

generating first display content for an information data set by a first application;

displaying the first display content by the first application on at least one display device of a motor vehicle;

generating second display content for the information data set by a second application after said displaying of the first display content;

displaying the second display content by the second application on the at least one display device;

synchronizing the at least two applications by at least one of exchanging the information data set and mutual referencing to the information data set; and

generating at least one optical signal, indicating synchronization of the at least two applications, by a signaling device in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21,

wherein the at least one display device includes two structurally separate display devices,

wherein said displaying of the first display content is on a first one of the display devices and said displaying of the second display content is on a second one of the display devices, and

wherein said generating of the at least one optical signal provides a visually perceptive link between the two structurally separate display devices when the at least two applications are synchronized.